Architectural School Building (Kei Design Architectural School)

A small building located in a residential area on the outskirts of Nagoya City, designed specifically as an architecture studio.

This project was conceived as a space where people interested in architecture can gather, engage in dialogue, and deepen their architectural thinking through creative processes. The first floor is designated as a parking lot, while the second and third floors are intended for use as classrooms or studios. The design prioritises flexibility, featuring a simple and open layout.

The entire building is constructed of steel frames, with structural elements such as beams, columns, and deck slabs intentionally exposed. By leaving the ceilings and walls unfinished, the space is kept in a skeleton state, serving as a teaching tool for students to observe and understand the actual structural components of architecture. Through direct experience of the relationship between structure, materials, and detailing within the space, the school’s philosophy of ‘learning architecture through architecture’ is embodied.

The top floor features a roof balcony offering views of the surrounding streetscape. The height adjustment of the boundary wall with the adjacent convenience store and the uneven terrain of the rear neighbouring site allows natural light to enter the pilotis, which serves not only as a garage but also as an open space for urban activities.

This building is not merely a classroom but an architectural structure designed to serve as a teaching tool itself, embodying the concept of architecture as a medium for learning.