Kobe City Chuo Ward Office and Chuo Ward Cultural Center

ConceptLocated in Kobes former foreign settlement area, the site of the project has a history dating back to 1867, when Kobe Port opened.The district was developed as a foreign settlement that evolved into one of the citys major business districts.Numerous Western-style buildings from the Taisho and Showa periods have been preserved in the district, which has been designated as a special landscape formation area.Designed as a government building that connects with the city and embraces sustainability, the project aims to foster a vibrant urban landscape.The complex integrates administrative functions that strengthen public services with cultural exchange facilities that encourage community engagement and artistic endeavors.Featuring a layered wooden eave (sky decks) and green planters arranged along the lower levels, the symbolic exterior integrates the buildings bustling multipurpose rooms and foyer into the urban space, creating a streetscape that feels both lush and lively.