Karakida Community Center by Chiaki Arai in Tokyo

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Contemporary building with patterned curving concrete walls and an overhanging first storey.
Exterior facade of Karakida Community Center in Tama
(Image credit: TBC)

For Chiaki Arai Urban & Architecture Design, respecting the history of a site is of paramount importance with every project. In the case of the Tokyo-based studio's latest work - Karakida Community Center in Tama, Tokyo - an undulating grass roof acts like a palimpsest of its former incarnation. 'The site was a small hill,' explains Chiaki Arai. 'The memories of the people who played on it are encapsulated by the building.'

Built on a sloping site, the western end of the structure - which accommodates a community hall and library - is on two floors. The eastern part, which houses a children's centre, is single storey.

With its delicately patterned concrete walls, the exterior of the building has a welcoming, almost anthropomorphic look (this is, after all, a building for children). Interiors, meanwhile, are kept simple and spacious thanks to tubular steel columns and an elegant combination of glass, wood and the same patterned concrete.

In 2009, we featured Arai's Ofunato Civic Cultural Center and Library, with its sweeping layers of terraced concrete, in our 'Fab 40', and this new building displays the same virtuoso control of the medium, which he imbues with an unexpected warmth. The award-winning 63-year-old architect, who worked for the Greater London Council in the 1970s before setting up his practice in Tokyo in 1980, was little known until he turned 50 - and actually considered giving up the profession a decade ago. With this latest work, you can't help feeling he's only just getting into his stride.

Frontal view of contemporary building with patterned concrete walls and curved corners, with planting in the foreground.

Considerate of the history of the location, which used to be a small hill where children played, Chiaki Arai Urban & Architecture Design have built the community center on a sloping site...

(Image credit: TBC)

Aerial view showing the design of a grass roof.

... and an undulating grass roof acts like a palimpsest of its former incarnation

(Image credit: TBC)

Aerial view showing grass roof of a contemporary building.

An aerial view of the community center and the grass roof

(Image credit: TBC)

Corner view of contemporary building showing curved roofline, curved corner and curved windows.

The exterior of the building’s welcoming, almost anthropomorphic look

(Image credit: TBC)

Indoor basketball court in light natural tones, illuminated by spotlights.

The indoor basketball court

(Image credit: TBC)

Interior of contemporary building showing a wide turning staircase - light natural colours blend with the light grey patterned concrete walls.

Chiaki Arai’s new building displays a virtuoso control of the medium of concrete, which he imbues with an unexpected warmth

(Image credit: TBC)

Large indoor space with high ceilings and seating area. Area is flooded with light through large window panes.

The interiors have been deliberately kept simple and spacious...

(Image credit: TBC)

Large indoor space with high ceilings, seating area and glass elevator.

... thanks to tubular steel columns and an elegant combination of glass, wood and patterned concrete

(Image credit: TBC)

Close-up view of internal patterned concrete walls.

A closer look at the community center’s delicately patterned concrete walls

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect's drawings for contemporary building.

Arai’s sketches for Karakida Community Center

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect's drawings for contemporary building.

The western end of the structure - which accommodates a community hall and library - is on two floors, while the eastern part, which houses a children’s centre, is single storey

(Image credit: TBC)
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