Architecture in the language of prayer: a forest chapel by a Japanese designer

The amazing forest chapel, in which the aesthetics of Japan and the technologies of world architecture are harmoniously intertwined, was designed by the designer Hiroshi Nakamura.

An unusual wooden structure sits on the outskirts of the village cemetery, which is open to all religions. The chapel is built on a triangular piece of land adjacent to a low-traffic road.

The building is made using the gassse-zukuri technique, which is considered a classic in Japanese architecture. The structure is in the shape of the letter V upside down. This effect is achieved with tilted columns that are stacked on top of each other. This design provides high resistance to potential seismic activity. In addition, due to the special arrangement of the support beams, it seems that the chapel stretches upward along with the branches of perennial trees.

The roof cladding is made of aluminum tiles, handcrafted by local artisans. The front view of the chapel resembles palms folded to read a prayer. And if you look at the chapel from above, it looks like a silver star.

The floor of the building is slightly sloped. Such a reception draws the attention of visitors to the picturesque forest that surrounds the cozy chapel.

According to the architect, the chapel reflects the connection of the soul with nature, and shows that the spirituality remains in the world around us even when the physical has left it.

Hiroshi Nakamura's project has become a place of solitude and comfort for people who have lost loved ones. In 2016 (according to the international competition Architizer A + Awards)
the chapel became the best in the category of "religious buildings".

Even smaller projects require a large amount of inventory. You can buy it in the section Industrial equipment.