Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF

Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Image 2 of 11Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Exterior Photography, FacadeJapan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Image 4 of 11Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Exterior Photography, Windows, FacadeJapan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - More Images+ 6

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Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Image 2 of 11
© Tatewaki NIO

Text description provided by the architects. The Japan House Sao Paulo opened as the first case of the “Japan House Project,” led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that aims to promote various aspects of Japanese culture in the world. 

Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Rogério Cassimiro

The building was formerly a bank located at Paulista Avenue, which is Sao Paulo’s city center. We repaired it by designing a wooden façade and the interior using washi (Japanese paper). Sao Paulo is a typical city of business in the world, but we added a place like a warm “house” for people to it. 

Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Image 9 of 11
Second Floor Plan
Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Image 10 of 11
Section

The façade is made of wired Kiso hinoki cypress supported by carbon fiber, which were put together to express a forest that emerged in the big city. The main material in the interior is metallic mesh in washi style – an expanded aluminum metal soaked in liquefied paper mulberry. Combination of the traditional and the new material helped create a modern and transparent space that could convey another Japanese style. 

Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Image 4 of 11
© Rogério Cassimiro

With its facilities such as a museum, lecture hall, shop and a restaurant, the Japan House has also become a new sightseeing spot in Sao Paulo and attracts lots of people. 

Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade
© Tatewaki NIO

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Project location

Address:Av. Paulista, 52 - Bela Vista, São Paulo - SP, 01310-000, Brazil

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Japan House São Paulo / Kengo Kuma & Associates + FGMF" 16 Aug 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/923091/japan-house-sao-paulo-kengo-kuma-and-associates-plus-fgmf> ISSN 0719-8884

© Tatewaki NIO

‘漂浮的鱼鳞’,圣保罗日本屋 / 隈研吾建筑都市设计事务所+ FGMF

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