DETAIL Prize 2014: Road Station Nabura Tosa Saga

The building designed by Future Studio is part of a road service station in the city of Kuroshio in Kochi Prefecture in southwestern Japan. The new building includes space for a restaurant area, shops and rental spaces as well as kitchen and sanitary facilities. In terms of design, the single-storey building is modelled after a fishing hut with timber framing. Its special feature is the huge wooden roof that envelopes all areas. This consists of a three-dimensional framework cubic lattice, which makes it possible to span the large space without supports. In addition, the high, open roof space provides a natural ventilation zone and ensures a pleasant room climate. The south side is completely closed, and thus reacts to the climatic conditions on the Pacific Ocean with strong summer insolation and excessive rain and wind. In order to nevertheless allow balanced natural light, evenly-distributed ceiling openings have been included in the facade and roof on the north side of the building. This means that the internal timber construction can also be seen from the outside.