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Honsho-ji Nokotsudo Temple Reconstruction | Tosu City, Fukuoka Pefecture, Japan | 2021

Honsho-ji Nokotsudo Temple Reconstruction | Tosu City, Fukuoka Pefecture, Japan | 2021

Architects: Matsuyama Architect & Associates
General Contractor: Inoue Housing Co., Ltd.
Client: Religious Corporation Honsho-ji
Photographers: Toshihisa Ishii


This project is reconstruction and expansion of the existing ossuary building in the Honsho-ji Temple. The project brief consisted series of new rooms, such as, an ossuary space which can accommodate 800 tombstones and also has to be a fire-proof construction because of the regulation, a new worship hall, a multipurpose room and WC for visitors.

The initial feasibility study showed that the building had to be three-storey in order to meet the requirements, however, it means that the new building exceed the height of existing Main Hall building and another surrounding environment, which was considered not appropriate in the context of this project. The architects worked with the client to revise the project brief to reduce to two-storey builing by utilise existing building as a part of new program and also re-visited minimum room sizes required without functionally compromised.

Addition to that, structural concrete slabs were exposed as ceiling to reduce the entire building height to harmonise with the Main Hall building and the Priests' Quarters in the same plot. Specially coated external aluminum claddings were intended to blend into historical roof cladding of the Main Hall building which was the main symbol of this temple. Besides, environmental aspect of this project, as this project was designed to have no air conditioning equipment, the double-skin cladding façade was introduced to reduce thermal energy storage in concrete to achieve moderate internal room temperature.

Ossuary Room and Worship Hall were designed to be separate buildings and in-between them, there are Waiting Hall and water feature which are for ‘purifying yourself’ before entering the Ossuary Room. The linear axis lead visitor toward the Ossuary Room for pray. Once enter the Ossuary Room, light and sound that was reflected to the folding ceiling gently welcome visitors. Although it was under severe restrictions, the architects were hoping to materialise or even close to some degree of dignity of holy space through this project.


Honsho-ji Nokotsudo Temple Reconstruction | Tosu City, Fukuoka Pefecture, Japan | 2021
Honsho-ji Nokotsudo Temple Reconstruction | Tosu City, Fukuoka Pefecture, Japan | 2021
Honsho-ji Nokotsudo Temple Reconstruction | Tosu City, Fukuoka Pefecture, Japan | 2021

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