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We all know that buildings don't always turn out like the renderings. Last-minute changes and real-life materials can all cause discrepancies between the vision and reality of a project. In our weekly Flash Forward Friday feature, we take a look at how different projects stack up.
While the first thing tourists will likely notice when they begin to explore Tokyo is the vast concrete jungle of skyscrapers, remnants of its ancient past lie deeper in the cityscape of Japan's most populous city. The district of Asakusa in central Tokyo has not only retained much of its traditional Japanese identity, but landmarks like the ancient Buddhist temple of Sensō-ji are among the neighbourhood's diverse cultural cornerstones. The attraction is framed by Kaminarimon, one of two entrance gates that has undergone relocation and reconstruction works numerous times. While the original gate was built in 941, the current structure dates back to 1960.
The popular gathering place has received heightened attention courtesy of a striking new building across the street designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates. The Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center accommodates an information centre, multi-purpose hall, exhibition space, and conference room within a building of eight sloping layered storeys.
Completed in 2012, the building maintained the overall character of the design depicted in the rendering, though the gradients of the layered floors have been slightly altered. Instead of the peaked apex that was originally envisioned, the building culminates with a sloped roof in reality. The protruding wood strips also appear thicker and the overhanging roof is now perforated.
The building lends a sense of unpredictability to the streetscape and cleverly disguises essential structural components. Mechanical spaces hide within the expanses created by the irregular floors and ceilings, which produce a number of dynamic areas throughout the building. A staircase and atrium link the first and second floors while an abundant supply of natural light enters through the glass walls. The inclined sixth floor provides the ideal setting for a terraced theatre, encapsulating the project's pluralities in a single and disjointed structure.
We will return next Friday with another comparison!
