Green Cast | Kengo Kuma and Associates
The facade of this building by Kengo Kuma and Associates is the star of the show, so-to-speak. Aluminum die-cast panels are set slightly off the glass secondary facade, creating a rainscreen of sorts, behind which equipment such as watering hoses and downpipes are installed, allowing the external facade to be kept clear.
photohraphy by © Kengo Kuma & Associates
Made of monoblock casting from decayed styrene foam, the aluminum panels also double as planters for surface dwelling plants which will grow over the building over time. Each panel is slanted in some way, which together with the vegetation, serve to create a facade which is incredibly alive, while being slightly understated.
photohraphy by © Kengo Kuma & Associates
Project info :
Year: 2011
Structure: RC
Tree Planting: Sugiko
Construction: Takenaka Corporation
Structure Design: Makino Structural Design
Structure Desing: Makino Structural Design
Total Area: 1047.80sqm (residence area: 181.61sqm)
Site Area: 424.50sqm
Built Area: 207.64sqm
Number Of Stories: 1 underground, 4 stories above
Floor Area For Each Story: B1F：288.68sqm, 1F：201.65sqm, 2F：189.13sqm, 3F: 189.13sqm, 4F: 181.61sqm
Maximum Height: 14.97m
Utilities, Equipment: P.T. Morimura & Associates. Ltd.
Aluminum Die Cast: Sanwa Tajima
Aluminum Casting: Sanwa Tajima
Courtesy of Kengo Kuma and Associates
Matt Davis is a Virginia Tech graduate and one of the founding editors behind Arch2O. Launching the platform in mid‑2012 alongside fellow Hokies, he helped shape its identity as an international hub for design innovation and critical dialogue . With a foundation in architectural education and a passion for uncovering unconventional design approaches, Matt has contributed significantly—both editorially and strategically—to Arch2O’s growth, ensuring that emerging architects, academics, and creatives have a space to question, explore, and elevate the built environment.