Namie, Japan

Rebuilding in Namie: Fukushima RDM Centre

Designed by ADAAC, the Aizawa Designers and Architects Collective, founded in 2021 by Taishi Aizawa, Vice President of Aizawa Concrete Corporation, Mr. Aizawa explains the origins of this centre. “After the Great East Japan Earthquake, a representative from Aizawa Concrete Corporation visited Namie and saw how everything had been reset by the tsunami. And we felt that this was land with a lot to offer. That's why we wanted to revive this town and make it one of the most cutting-edge places in Japan. Now, companies, organisations and research institutions that want to do new things are gathering in Namie one after another with the support of the government. Considering this, we decided not to simply build a factory, but to create a centre that integrates research, development and manufacturing to pursue various possibilities.”

Because this project started with unique circumstances, we embraced the challenge of constructing an unprecedented building using concrete. The construction method uses full prestressed concrete, a specialty of Aizawa Concrete Corporation.

“We took on a reckless challenge (laughs),” says Mr. Aizawa.

“Most buildings made with prestressed concrete are civil engineering projects, such as tunnel construction. However, this concrete is high quality and strong, and it can create large spaces without pillars. It suited the building, and once completed, it created the impressive church-like atmosphere that we were aiming for."

Inside, we have created many places where people can bring their ideas, discuss and work. Each area uses different furniture to create unique themes. Using USM Haller we created an object resembling the splash of waves extending from the sofa, which doubles as a bench for a café setting. It was designed to match the concrete wall surface, so they fit in perfectly.

Mr. Aizawa has always admired this furniture and used it in the ADAAC office, gaining a deep understanding of its features and possibilities. With his architectural background and knowledge of new and digital technologies, he personally designed the 3D objects.

In this space, we intentionally avoided adding panels, except for the bench area, which is not used for storage.

“The non-bench area is just a design.” People often ask me ‘What is this?’ and I answer, ‘Isn't it cool? We often see people overseas doing unique things with USM Haller, but I don't think there have been many in Japan, so we want to be proactive, because anything can be done depending on the idea. And this kind of use can create synergy because the architecture is spectacular, so the furniture must be remarkable too, or it’ll be lost.”

The colourful bench panels create a striking contrast against the concrete and match the flooring. “The centre is like a toy box, and we wanted to reflect that feeling. When having a meeting or meal, it’s important to tell people what colour benches to gather on, and the bright primary colours are very typical of USM Haller, I think.”

Another eye-catching feature is the Mobius, a large object that doubles as a bench. Inspired by the painter Maurits Escher, known for his fantastic works, it consists of octagonal parts that twist to form the shape of ‘∞’ (infinity). This motif reflects the possibilities of the town of Namie. The bench is made from a combination of 3D-printed concrete and fabric, seamlessly connecting the two materials to create a complex shape. This required innovative techniques from design to production. Particularly challenging was Mr. Aizawa’s idea to make the concrete float at the intersection of the rings. Despite its intricate design, the bench is strong enough to support people sitting on it.

Concrete production inevitably emits carbon dioxide. To address this, extending the lifespan of concrete and making sustainable proposals are essential. Mr. Aizawa believes that the USM brand may hold the key to achieving this.

“USM products are very simple, but the brand is built on a sense of reliability that allows us to continue to use them over time in different forms. Concrete is a standard mass-produced product and is not recognised as a brand, but that is what we are aiming for. We’re thinking about branding using concrete that has asset value and is simple and can be combined."

Concrete is a ubiquitous material in building construction, often overlooked despite its significance. Its advancements and potential applications are deeply intertwined with design. Envisioning future collaborations with USM opens up numerous possibilities.