GOOD CYCLE BUILDING

A Sustainable Transformation of an Aged Office Tower

Breathing New Life into an Old Structure
The office building located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, was built 30 years ago and owned by Asanuma Corporation. With a strong commitment to sustainability and a circular design approach, the company launched the "GOOD CYCLE BUILDING" project. This project marked the first step in transforming the office building into a model of environmental consciousness and sustainable architecture. Rather than maintaining the cold, mechanical aesthetics commonly associated with office buildings, the design introduces a new concept that expresses respect for nature and life.

Sustainable Materials and Design Choices
The building’s renovation aimed to achieve a commitment to nature, beginning with the choice of materials. A significant part of the transformation was the removal of the glass curtain wall and the redesign of the façade with deep overhanging windows to enhance natural light and ventilation. The exterior was redesigned using Japanese cedar from the Yoshino Forest in Nara, creating a natural appearance that integrates the building with its surroundings. As the building rises, the columns naturally taper in diameter, mimicking the organic growth patterns of trees, making the architecture resemble the free, natural growth of trees in the earth. This design not only highlights the building’s natural beauty but also significantly reduces the waste generated from discarded materials. Furthermore, when the wooden components need to be replaced in the future, they can be reused, continuing the sustainable cycle.

A Unique Interior: The Art of Soil Materials
Entering the renovated building, visitors are immediately struck by a distinctive atmosphere. The floors, walls, and ceilings are made from soil materials, creating a sense of returning to the earth. The leftover soil from construction was repurposed to form the surfaces inside and outside the building, giving the structure a grounded, organic feel. Interestingly, the application of the soil to the walls was not handled by professional craftsmen but by the users themselves, who participated in the process of applying the material to the surfaces. This involvement helped build a sense of ownership and responsibility for the building’s construction and maintenance.

The soil walls are remarkable in that they contain no added substances. They are durable and stand the test of time, and should the walls need to be re-coated in the future, the soil can be reused, ultimately returning to nature.

Recycled Materials and the Building as a "Material Bank"
The renovation primarily utilized natural materials like soil and wood, and also gave new life to recycled construction debris. The building became a "material bank," where materials that were once discarded, such as stones, old wood, and gypsum, were re-incorporated into the design. These materials were either reused directly or repurposed to create furniture when combined with leftover soil and wood. By giving space and materials a second life, the building represents the core of sustainable design, allowing nature, sunlight, and greenery to flow seamlessly into the space. This philosophy of sustainability and resource efficiency is embodied throughout the building, where natural materials circulate freely, demonstrating the true meaning of circular architecture.

Project Information
Project Name: GOOD CYCLE BUILDING 001
Location: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Architects: Nori Architects + Asanuma Corporation
Design Team: Norihisa Kawashima, Takuro Kunitomo, Shohei Takeuchi, Yuki Ishibashi (Nori Architects)
Asanuma Corporation Team: Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Saya Okazaki, Kazuaki Nakamura, Naoko Itemadani, Katsuya Mizuno
Design Period: May 2019 – July 2020
Construction Period: August 2020 – September 2021
Reference:https://greenmedia.today/article_detail.php?cid=35&mid=769