Green Cast / Kengo Kuma & Associates

Architects: Kengo Kuma & Associates
Location: Odawara-shi, Kanagawa prefecture in Japan
Total Area: 1047.80sqm (residence area: 181.61sqm)
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Kengo Kuma & Associates

Kengo Kuma & Associates have created this visually stunning mixed-use building in Odawara, Japan, featuring a living façade made of aluminum die-cast panels that act as vertical planters. The slightly slanted panels are made of monoblock casting and give an organic appearance, as the cast comes from decayed styrene foam.

The five story building was completed in the summer of 2011. Parking is available on the basement and ground floor, along with a pharmacy and clinic. The next two floors provide space for offices and a vocational school, while the fourth floor belongs to a two bedroom residence with access to a private rooftop terrace.

Equipment such as watering hoses, an air reservoir for ventilation and downpipes are integrated behind the aluminum panels to allow the façade to accommodate a comprehensive system for the building.

Structure: RC, steel-frame
Number of Stories：1 underground, 4 stories above
Site area: 424.50sqm
Built area：207.64sqm
Floor area for each story：B1F：288.68sqm, 1F：201.65sqm, 2F：189.13sqm, 3F: 189.13sqm, 4F: 181.61sqm
Maximum height: 14.97m

Structure：Makino Structural Design
Utilities, Equipment：P.T. Morimura and Associates
Construction：Takenaka Corporation
Tree Planting：Sugiko
Aluminum Die-Cast: Sanwa Tajima
Construction Period：May 2010 – June 2011