kenzo makino & associates has introduced their design for a roofing material molding factory, located in the harbor area in the northern part of kyoto, in japan. the building also functions as a sales office for a building material trading company, while at the same time, additional spatial programs are envisioned, such as exhibition halls. 

all images by yano noriyuki 

the steel roofing of the factory showcases the company’s diverse products on its eight monitor roofs with various textures, making the project by kenzo makino & associates a product sample in itself. along with economic efficiency under the strict budget control of the factory construction, the architects also focused on the building’s meaningfulness, aiming for the incorporation of emotional richness, besides functionality. in this way, the design includes a hidden line of presentation under the production area, generating a factory that is also an exhibition hall.

rather than just adding rooms and materials, the architects decided to make the whole environment readable as an exhibition hall. ‘we conceived it like rubin’s vase, which is a vase but also is readable as two faces of people, depending on perception’ the design team shares. this building is a factory if you see it as so, but it can be recognized as an exhibition space when visitors are guided within the premises. the office building will house a reception desk, a foyer, as well as a cafe that welcomes visitors, while the workshop will be a demonstration exhibition area. in addition, the stockyard will serve as a permanent exhibition area, and the rooftop maintenance bridge will be an outdoor viewing space.

eight monitor roofs stand on the main roof, gaining stable indirect light and ensuring ventilation from the north side. forming a sawtooth-like roof, typical for factory construction in japan. the roofs were set up to cover every other span and the bridge was passed through the center, so that the roofs look like a group of standing buildings from afar. with this formation, the effect of the sawtooth roof, which is typical in factory construction, is maintained. however, the form and meaning are changed from the jagged roof to the floating eight roofs, with each one covered with a different material. 

when you stand on the roof, you can literally see the whole lifecycle of the products at a glance. the production process is shown below through the opening of the monitor roof, while the finished products are showcased all over the skin of the factory. from the tip of the bridge one can observe the dynamic scenery of maizuru west port’s shipping and land transportation. standing just 500 m away from the coastline, the factory shows its weathering quality over years, like product samples, exposed against the salty sea breeze. 

project info:

name: matsui archmetal maizuru factory, kyoto, japan
architecture office: kenzo makino & associates
location: maizuru city, jyoto prefecture, japan

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom