© Sou Fujimoto Architects . Pubblicata il 26 Novembre 2008.

The privileged site is on a southwestwardly slope facing the sea in Hokkaido, northernmost mainland of Japan. The programme being a rehabilitation facility for mentally-disabled people. Fundamental ambiguity was required here, being a comfortable “home” for each twenty residents, whereas being a “city”-like place, in the sense it necessitates diversity and unpredictability of life.

© Sou Fujimoto Architects . Pubblicata il 26 Novembre 2008.

In its plan, 5.4meter squares adjacent to the neighboring squares on apexes, at varying angles. This brings about varied shapes / sizes of gaps and ends- the places where people stay in between. If likened to a city, this process were to connect alleys and to arrange tiny squares on every corner, instead of building wide roads and large squares where people collect around. By this way, homelike dimensions and city-like diversity are achieved at the same time.

© Sou Fujimoto Architects . Pubblicata il 26 Novembre 2008.

This is an attempt to generate architecture from its inner side. There series of subtle orders, or relations between one segment and another, compose architecture. “Segment” here is in no sense a “part” nor “component.” When “parts” are assembled, it would only produce a machine, which is very commonly seen in the Modern era. To combine parts, a bigger ordering is needed as a premise, such as which part is to be set where. Rather, a “segment” I hereby mention indicates local relationship. The relationship itself produces a smaller ordering.

© Sou Fujimoto Architects . Pubblicata il 26 Novembre 2008.