Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture Brings Music to the Ears of Ikegami Residents
20/10/2022.
[TOK] Japan
metalocus, ADELA BONAS
metalocus, ADELA BONAS
Ideareave Ikegami, designed by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture in collaboration with architect Takayuki Yagi, is a mixed-use complex ingeniously blends a music hall and residential units within a single building located at the foot of Ikegami Honmonji temple, well known for its five-story pagoda, on south Tokyo, Japan.
The plot is located at the foot of Ikegami Honmonji temple, well known for its five-story pagoda. In Japan it is considered as the head temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, said to have been founded by a noble monk Nichiren more than 700 years ago. The land space surrounding the historic site of Ikegami Honmonji temple, atop the mountain area in Ota Ward, is famous for its cherry blossoms during the spring.
The plot is located at the foot of Ikegami Honmonji temple, well known for its five-story pagoda. In Japan it is considered as the head temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, said to have been founded by a noble monk Nichiren more than 700 years ago. The land space surrounding the historic site of Ikegami Honmonji temple, atop the mountain area in Ota Ward, is famous for its cherry blossoms during the spring.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Site plan. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Site plan. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
First floor plan. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Second floor plan. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Third floor plan. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Fourth floor plan. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Elevation. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Elevation. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Elevation. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Elevation. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Section. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Section. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Section. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Axonometric. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Floor perspective. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Floor perspective. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Section perspective. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Diagram. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Detail. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
Diagram. Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture.
The proposal designed by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture for Ideareave Ikegami is a facility in which the residents of the area may present, create, practise, and study music. It was built for client Yasunori Kamata / K-M-T, at the foot of this emblematic place, where the city grows around you with smaller temples, cafes and shops.
The project drew on this area’s vibrant character and cultural identity to develop the design, a reinforced concrete structure, built with special delicacy and attention to detail, combining performance space, practice rooms, and soundproofed residential rental units, as well as a penthouse at the very top. A variety of spaces for musical activities which are to be used at different times in a hybrid way.
“The Ikegami Honmonji temple is the most important spiritual site of the Nichiren Buddhist sect, with an illustrious history dating back to the 13th century. The challenge for us was to design an experiential complex in its shadow that would embrace the spiritual and cultural essence of the community, while also respecting the types of strictly-enforced building codes that typically protect such heritage areas.”
Ryuichi Sasaki.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Ideareave Ikegami by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Photograph by Takumi Ota Photography.
Project description by Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture
The project is located at the foot of the Ikegami Honmonji Buddhist temple, renowned for its massive five-story pagoda erected in the early 17th century, the Ideareve-Ikegami is located in the south Tokyo town of Ikegami, a cultural hub comprised of smaller temples, cafes, stores, and residential zones. The mandate for Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture was to design a facility for the town where residents can gather, express their creativity, and study music in a variety of hybrid spaces. The firm embraced the mandate and responded in a stunning geometrical fashion.
A seamless blend with the environment
To the northwest of Ikegami’s largest cluster of residences, the complex sits on a trapezoidal site, just east of the town’s temples and cafes that cater largely to migrant waves of pilgrims en route to the temple. The two-story music hall and its 80-seat theatrical auditorium occupy a strategic place in the southwest corner of the structure, entered via a vestibule and foyer that combine to form a circulation zone that blurs the lines between the inspiring, undulating hills of the external landscape and the vibe of creativity that awaits inside. The foyer is embraced by three brass-coloured, stainless steel diagonal walls, and the interior of the hall is encased in acoustic reflectors, with large walls that collectively form an abstract diagonal shape. Glass surfaces and multiple entranceways further embolden connections between the music hall and the surrounding landscape, with the latter embellished by gabion walls that delineate a garden of various species of plants.
Spatial reconfigurations
Towards the centre of the building, the residential zone shares its entranceway with the music hall and is accessed via a staircase marked by architectural elements symbolically paying tribute to the climb to the Ikegami Honmonji temple. At the top of the staircase, a series of sound-proofed rental homes line the corridor, each comprised of a kitchen, bathroom, soundproofed living room, and sleeping quarters. The residential volume also houses a penthouse unit, comprised of three-volume areas featuring sliding walls that enable maximum spatial configurations of its spaces. By reconfiguring the sliding walls, the living room and dining room areas can be enlarged to accommodate a variety of logistical situations. The sleeping quarters can also be reconfigured from a master bedroom into multiple bedrooms to accommodate other family members or houseguests.
Finally, above the music hall, a large terrace further fuses the seamless border between the building’s interior and exterior, incorporating inspirational views of the majestic landscape for the benefit Ideareve-Ikegami patrons.
“Views from the residential area, as well as the music hall circulation areas, were designed to inspire emotions conducive to musical creativity and melodic rhythms. The project contributes to the blending of culture and hospitality that characterizes the town, and we are proud to provide this complex for the joyful use of residents of Ikegami.”
Ryuichi Sasaki.
More information
Architects
Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture. Lead Architect.- Ryuichi Sasaki.
Architect (Producer).- Takayuki Yagi / Yagi Komuten.
Architect (Producer).- Takayuki Yagi / Yagi Komuten.
Project team
Ryuichi Sasaki, Gen Sakaguchi, Yuriko Ogura.
Collaborators
Structure Engineer.- Tatsumi Terado /Tatsumi Terado Structural Studio.
Acoustics.- Akira Ono/ Nagata Acoustics.
Landscape.- Takeshi Matsuo /Plat Design.
Light Design.- Natsuha Kameoka /Lighting Sou.
Metal.- Tatsunori Horiyama/Shinko Stainless Polishing.
Acoustics.- Akira Ono/ Nagata Acoustics.
Landscape.- Takeshi Matsuo /Plat Design.
Light Design.- Natsuha Kameoka /Lighting Sou.
Metal.- Tatsunori Horiyama/Shinko Stainless Polishing.
Client
Yasunori Kamata / K-M-T.
Area
Site Area.- 614.14 sqm
Building Area.- 305.35 sqm.
Total floor Area.- 794.44 sqm.
Building Area.- 305.35 sqm.
Total floor Area.- 794.44 sqm.
Dates
Completion Date.- May 2021.
Location
1-30-23 Ikegami, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Photography
Ryuichi Sasaki. Sasaki Architecture
Sasaki Architecture. Architecture firm established on Tokyo, Japan, in 2004 by Ryuichi Sasaki (Principal of Sasaki Architecture. Born in Tokyo, 1970). 1989-1994, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, USA, Bachelor of Architecture. 1994-1995, Columbia University, NYC, USA, Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design. 1994-1995, Asymptote Architecture, NYC, USA. 1996-2004, Kumesekkei Co.,Ltd, Tokyo, Japan. 2004-Present SASAKI ARCHITECTURE, Principal.
Ryuichi Sasaki is member of Japan Institute of Architects. Chartered Member of Royal Institute of British Architects. International Associate Member of American Institute of Architects.
Awards and Prizes.- 2007 AR Awards for Emerging Architecture 2007 "Commended" (Architectural Review, London, UK). 2007, 2011 AIA Japan Design Award “Grand Prix” (AIA Japan Chapter, USA). 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020,2021 Iconic Awards “Winner” (German Design Council, Frankfurt, Germany). 2016, 2017,2019,2020-2021 Leaf Awards, Shortlisted (Leading European Architects Forum, London, UK) . 2017 International Design Awards, “Gold” (IDA, Los Angeles, USA). 2018, 2020 German Design Awards “Winner” (German Design Council, Frankfurt, Germany). 2018,2020-2021 World Architecture Festival Awards, 4 Projects Shortlisted (WAF, Amsterdam, Holland). 2021 The Plan Award, “Winner”, Office and Business Category (Bologna, Italy).
Ryuichi Sasaki is member of Japan Institute of Architects. Chartered Member of Royal Institute of British Architects. International Associate Member of American Institute of Architects.
Awards and Prizes.- 2007 AR Awards for Emerging Architecture 2007 "Commended" (Architectural Review, London, UK). 2007, 2011 AIA Japan Design Award “Grand Prix” (AIA Japan Chapter, USA). 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020,2021 Iconic Awards “Winner” (German Design Council, Frankfurt, Germany). 2016, 2017,2019,2020-2021 Leaf Awards, Shortlisted (Leading European Architects Forum, London, UK) . 2017 International Design Awards, “Gold” (IDA, Los Angeles, USA). 2018, 2020 German Design Awards “Winner” (German Design Council, Frankfurt, Germany). 2018,2020-2021 World Architecture Festival Awards, 4 Projects Shortlisted (WAF, Amsterdam, Holland). 2021 The Plan Award, “Winner”, Office and Business Category (Bologna, Italy).
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