Thisispaper Community
Join today.
Enter your email address to receive the latest news on emerging art, design, lifestyle and tech from Thisispaper, delivered straight to your inbox.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Instant access to new channels
The top stories curated daily
Weekly roundups of what's important
Weekly roundups of what's important
Original features and deep dives
Exclusive community features
@zaxarovcom
Feb 11, 2021

Tadahiro Butsugan, a director of Tokyo and Osaka based design studio ABOUT, has renovated Mekari-Jinja Shrine’s reception building that offers charms and amulets in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Founded in approximately 200 AD, the Mekari Shrine, one of around 80,000 shrines in the country, has watched over the adjacent kanmon straits for 1,800 years. All shrines contain an office that serves as a special place where gifts and amulets are exchanged. The architects responded to the brief by considering how to return the site to its ancient roots by uncovering the true essence of a shrine’s award office.

Mekari Shrine is a Shinto shrine associated with the Goddess of the Moon. Being a shrine on the yin side of the yin and yang, and based on the client’s request, the designer chose a darker design rather than a brighter atmosphere. “The exterior walls are installed with polished black plaster, resistant to the sea breeze. The dark colour and thickness of the walls created a massive atmosphere. Also, inspired by the cave, a new eave was installed in front of the existing tiled roof to create depth and to screen the interior and exterior views. The new wide entrance makes it a comfortable space to feel the outside air, and also designed to allow people to pass easily, even during busy times.

“The walls were finished with white plaster, as an image of light against shadow. We also installed a small area with tatami mats to bring visitors and the priests closer together.”

"When considering the renovation of the award office, rather than exchanging gifts under an ordinary roof, such as one you would find in any building in Japan, we felt that we had to change the physical space in order to create a spiritual space worthy of the auspicious act of gift-giving,’ says the architect."

No items found.
Join +
We love less
but there is more.
Become a Thisispaper+ member today to unlock full access to our magazine, advanced tools, and support our work.
Travel Guides
Submission Module
Print Archive
Curated Editions
+ more
Buy now
No items found.
@zaxarovcom
Feb 11, 2021

Tadahiro Butsugan, a director of Tokyo and Osaka based design studio ABOUT, has renovated Mekari-Jinja Shrine’s reception building that offers charms and amulets in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Founded in approximately 200 AD, the Mekari Shrine, one of around 80,000 shrines in the country, has watched over the adjacent kanmon straits for 1,800 years. All shrines contain an office that serves as a special place where gifts and amulets are exchanged. The architects responded to the brief by considering how to return the site to its ancient roots by uncovering the true essence of a shrine’s award office.

Mekari Shrine is a Shinto shrine associated with the Goddess of the Moon. Being a shrine on the yin side of the yin and yang, and based on the client’s request, the designer chose a darker design rather than a brighter atmosphere. “The exterior walls are installed with polished black plaster, resistant to the sea breeze. The dark colour and thickness of the walls created a massive atmosphere. Also, inspired by the cave, a new eave was installed in front of the existing tiled roof to create depth and to screen the interior and exterior views. The new wide entrance makes it a comfortable space to feel the outside air, and also designed to allow people to pass easily, even during busy times.

“The walls were finished with white plaster, as an image of light against shadow. We also installed a small area with tatami mats to bring visitors and the priests closer together.”

"When considering the renovation of the award office, rather than exchanging gifts under an ordinary roof, such as one you would find in any building in Japan, we felt that we had to change the physical space in order to create a spiritual space worthy of the auspicious act of gift-giving,’ says the architect."

Architecture
section is proudly under the patronage of:
John Pawson

Independent publications like Thisispaper rely on support by readers and companies to be sustainable.

Current patron of Architecture Section:

If you are ready to book a slot, please use the following link:
Become a Patron

Introducing OS
An intimate space which helps creative minds thrive.
Discover. Share. Embrace.
Thisispaper Shop
Shop Now
Thisispaper+Guides
Discover the most inspiring places and stories through carefully-curated travel guides.
Explore all GuidesExplore channels