WAVES RISE FROM THE FLOOR OF KENGO KUMA’S TOWADA CITY PLAZA

Children are invited to climb and play in this community center designed by the Japanese architect

The Towada City Plaza is a friendly new face in Towada, Japan. Japanese architecture firm Kengo Kuma and Associates created a community-friendly design for the the small city, which is tucked in the foothills of the Hakkoda Mountains in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture. The community center is a gathering place for citizens of the community that encompasses offices, a kitchen, tatami room and children’s playroom.

The building’s structure is made of simple exposed wood with a steel roof. Vertical timber slats cover portions of the exterior, creating a filtered light within. To help the community center blend into its residential surroundings, the architects maintained a low building height and used a repeating series of roof peaks that imitate individual homes.

An undulating floor in the children’s playroom is a highlight of the building. Children can climb the miniature landscape or even use the bumps as slides. The floors were created by stacking wood discs on top of each other. The lack of interior partitions and sharp edges adds to the children’s safety as they hurtle through the building.