An earthquake resistant office has been unveiled in Nomi City of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan. The building, resembling a giant spider web, is the world’s first seismic reinforcement structure made with carbon fiber material, and was designed by world-famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
The three-story building, fa-bo, is an office and laboratory constructed for Komatsu Seiren, a Japanese fabric manufacturer. Located in an active earthquake zone, the client wanted a building that would be able to withstand earthquakes or tsunamis.
Bearing that need in mind, Kuma decided to renovate the client’s former office building by setting up carbon fibers outside, to strengthen the architecture against natural crisis. Outfitted with minimalistic concrete, fa-bo is strong and stable enough to sustain harsh weather conditions, earthquakes, and floods.
The building also features a showroom with exhibits and workshops that are open to visitors interested in fabric crafting. On top of fa-bo is a roof garden with a great view of Mt. Haku.
In this video, architect Kengo Kuma talks about the building's structure.
Head over to Spoon & Tamago or Japan Trends for more details about this project.
