Four-storey-high panels of corrugated Corten steel cover the exterior of this Tokyo gallery and office block by Japanese architect Kensuke Watanabe.

Positioned beside a busy road, the narrow building abuts two existing blocks.

Galleries occupy the two lower floors and two offices are located above, one of which accommodates an antique art dealer.

The weathered metal panels were prefabricated offsite, as were window shutters of the same material.

Other projects we've featured that use Corten include a German town archive and a see-through church - see them all here.

Above: photograph by Irei Hashimoto

Photography is by the architect, apart from where otherwise stated.

Below are some more words from Kensuke Watanabe:

Iron Gallery

Iron Gallery is a steel-made building standing in a small lot in the center of Tokyo. This tenant building consists of 4 stories, including an antique art dealer's office. The total floor area of the whole building is less than 100m2.

A careful discussion took place between the architect, structural designer, and the contractor from the very beginning of the project. The project was efficiently carried out due to this process, and the aesthetic image, feasibility and cost control were all taken into account concurrently.

Since the site was facing a heavy traffic of arterial road and had very limited work space, all agreed on using steel construction for this project. This way, most of the construction parts could be fabricated in factories, minimizing the work at the actual site. Superstructure was welded directly on top of steel pipe piles. Facade panels with the height of the entire building were fabricated at the factory, and brought into the site. Once the panels were set, the gap was welded to be watertight. Actual labor at the site was only 47 days from setting the piles to the completion of the building.

COR-TEN steel was used for facade material. The outer walls are set in minimum distance from site boundaries, so maintenance-free material was suitable. The reddish brown color of COR-TEN steel that ages in time also matched the building content, antique. The surface plate was forged, creating ribs that stiffened the panel while adding delicate appearance created by the shades of the sun.

The site is facing north and has bright greenery across the street. By inviting such nature and surrounding view of the city into the building through a large opening, an extended atmosphere is implemented into the small interior.

Location: AzabuJuban, Tokyo
Use: Antique Gallery. Office
Site Area: 27.33m2
Size: Steel Construction 4 story, Total 97.33m2

Client: Mori Building Co. Ltd
Contractor: Eiger Co. Ltd, Noriaki Fujii, Koji Misaki
Architect: kwas/kensuke watanabe architecture studio, Kensuke Watanabe
Structure: K. Nakata & Associates, Katsuo Nakata, Takashi Takamizawa
Steel Fabrication: Tokyo Kentetsu, Kenji Sasaki, Shuuji Matsushima, Masamoto Kondo

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Architecture Studio appeared first on Dezeen.

Japanese architects Kensuke Watanabe Architecture Studio have completed an arch with a cross at its apex outside a church in Tokorozawa, Japan.

Called Cross Tower, the structure is 7.8 metres tall and made of 28 millimeter-thick sheet steel, painted white.

The sides bend outwards towards the bottom to give strength to the piece and create a welcoming gateway into the church.

Here's some more information from Kensuke Watanabe Architecture Studio:

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Cross Tower

The project is a Cross Tower added to an existing church in Tokorozawa, Japan.

The existing church complex had difficulty being recognized as a catholic church because of its gymnasium-like appearance with no significant symbol. With the addition of this Cross Tower, the existing complex will easily be acknowledged as a church, showing its religious faith and Christian activities.

New Cross Tower was designed as a 7.8m height arch with cross on top, made of steel plate 500mm wide and 28mm thick. The use of a single material from the ground to top is representing the connection of heaven and earth, as well as the oneness of the people with God.

By using the technique of plate forming for shipbuilding, the steel plate is gradually twisted toward the bottom facing outside, strengthening the structural stability. This outward shape is also creating a welcoming gesture which enables the tower to serve as a gate for people to walk through daily or in ceremonial occasions. The surface of steel is painted white and reflects sun, color of sky, or shadow of clouds.

Client: Tokorozawa Catholic Church
Architect: kwas/kensuke watanabe architecture studio, Kensuke Watanabe, Yuji Mukaiyama
Structure: Ken Nagasaka Engineering Network, Kentaro Nagasaka
Construction: Eiger co., ltd, Noriaki Fujii, Koji Misaki
Steel Fabrication: Takahashi Kogyo co., ltd, Kazushi Takahashi, Yoshiaki Onodera

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Architecture Studio appeared first on Dezeen.

Tokyo architect Kensuke Watanabe has completed a rehabilitation centre for people suffering with mental illness near Tokyo in Japan.

Called Sowa Unit, the two-storey building consists of six concrete bands arranged in a staggered formation.

Concrete sides keep the interior closed off from neighbouring buildings.

The front and back of each band is glazed, encouraging users to visually and physically connect with other people in the centre, and the street beyond.

Photos are by Koichi Torimura.

Here's some more information from Kensuke Watanabe:

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Sowa Unit

The site is located in middle of residential district of suburb area, an hour ride with train from center of Tokyo.

The project is a facility that supports the rehabilitation of mentally disordered person.

Two approaches of design could be considered for handicap support facility; one is providing protect for what the user is disabled, and the other is stimulate and encourage the disabled part more than usual condition.

Extensive discussions with the Client lead the project to take the later approach, to have the space open and encourage the users to get physically and visually connected with other people.

The building is composed with six bands that shift its position one by another.

Openings to the direction of street are clearly open while the crossing direction to the neighbor has no widows.

This allows the activity and space of the building to be connected each other or to street and town while having appropriate distance and buffer to the adjacent resident.

Ceiling at second floor are also shifted vertically so natural light comes through the high side slit window.

Each band have open space and closed core which stole the equipment or having water supply that supports the activity held in open space.

These cores stands alternately so that the space is not only being transparent but also has a visually blocked area that user can control the connectivity by shifting his body within the space.

The program with public character such as café, lunchroom, or office work training room are located at street side and gradually turns private toward the end of the building.

The structure is made of reinforced concrete and has exposed finish.

We used the normal plywood rather than coated one for the formwork so the graining is transferred and remain as the texture of concrete.

Floor material is mortal or tile at 1st floor and wood flooring at 2nd floor.

Architect: kwas/kensuke watanabe architecture studio, Kensuke Watanabe, Yuji Mukaiyama

Structure: Ken Nagasaka Engineering Network, Kentaro Nagasaka, Tomohiro Magami

MEP: So Setsubi, Akihiro Nanjo
Lighting: Sirius Lighting Office, Hirohito Totsune, Toshiya Nagano

Construction: Hatsukari Construction Company, Toshihide Miya, Toshiyuki Yagi
Photo: Koichi Torimura

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