Kdu Campus Center
Educational Building for Atelier MEME
The Kanagawa Dental University Campus Center embodies a philosophy of Gentle Architecture, merging functional spaces for staff and students with communal areas under a generous, cloud-like roof. The use of colored concrete and a landscape that softens boundaries with the surrounding park fosters a welcoming environment. The Campus Center, designed to be the foyer of the campus and the city, aims to revitalize campus life and open the university to the community, making it a place where everyone can easily gather and engage in various activities.
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KDU Campus Center by Atelier Meme
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Educational Building by Atelier Meme
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Atelier Meme KDU Campus Center
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Atelier Meme Educational Building
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Unique Properties
The University Campus Center merges functional spaces for staff and students under a distinctive, cloud-like roof. Contrasts between the classic concrete frame and the grand roof create a diverse spatial experience. The integrated landscaping softens boundaries with the adjacent park, fostering a vibrant and welcoming environment. Designed as the "foyer of the campus and the city," this center revitalizes campus life, encouraging community engagement and creating a dynamic hub for activities.
Tags
University, Office, Learning Space, Student Hall, Community Center, Roof, Colored Concrete, Voided Slab, Seaside, Cloud
Production Technology
The vast roof, reminiscent of clouds, uses technologies like voided slabs and skilled craftsmanship. It achieves lightness at about half the weight of regular concrete, supported by slim columns without beams. This design captures a liberating quality rarely found in industrially arranged buildings. The edges are shaped into gentle curves and R-profiles using artisan-crafted formwork. Additionally, the state-of-the-art spray-applied techniques ensure the waterproofing of the roof.
Design Challenge
The primary challenge in creating a plaza-like space under a vast roof was considering its abstract design. The roof needed to resonate as the enduring hub of the campus and avoid trends that might quickly date it. Ultimately, the design mirrored a white object, reflecting the flowing clouds characteristic of a seaside town. Another critical theme was the campus's openness to the community, meticulously balancing safety and accessibility with attention to fence height, gate width, and pavement layout.
Project Duration
The project was conceptualized in April 2020 and concluded its design phase in January 2022. The application process followed from February 2022 to June 2022, with construction commencing in July 2022 and completed in January 2024 at Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Operation Flow
The campus is covered by a large-scale roof, with the administrative and learning buildings positioned at the core. This setup allows for focused work or study inside the main building, and stepping out offers expansive spaces for breaks. It enables a lifestyle that easily shifts between contrasting environments. The softened boundaries with the park and harmonious continuity with the city foster a campus hub where everyone can freely spend their time.
Research
As an educational corporation, the client was inherently conservative, worried that the "Campus Foyer" vision might compromise key functions like offices and halls. Understanding the client's nature deeply, we carefully balanced architectural functionality and softness. Ultimately, by merging a classical, conservative structure with a "free" expansive roof, we preserved essential functions while fostering a welcoming atmosphere that naturally attracts people.
Inspiration
Charming cities and towns always have squares and parks that naturally draw people together. How about this campus? Confronted by monotonous buildings and a sterile landscape covered in asphalt, we felt a strong sense of disconnect. At the same moment, a vision flashed before us: a tranquil, expansive roof under which people could gather and interact, fitting for a seaside town. This idea aimed to transform the campus into a vibrant, welcoming space.
Image Credits
Image #1-5: Photographer Hiroyuki Oki, Blue Hours Co., Ltd. , 2024
Project Overview
Kdu Campus Center Educational Building has been a Silver winner in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design award category in the year 2024 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
Atelier Meme was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2025, a testament to excellence of their work Kdu Campus Center Educational Building.
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