This project was built as as a food shop and community space in the restricted area, where most of buildings are temporary. Thus we designed the building so that is different from other temporary buildings. The use of Japanese cedar for walls and the traditional gable roof make local people feel comfortable. Furthermore, the roof is low-pitched that can withstand strong wind from the sea. The building was also designed and constructed so that it can relocate easily if it needs to when the local government determine not to allow any permanent buildings to be in the area in future.
In Tohoku, many reconstruction projects are happening right now. Everybody is busy! It took Tumugiya members almost 3 months to find a contractor. We hired a contractor from Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture. Then finally we broke ground on June 15, 2012, and Oshika House's construction has begun.
Excavating for foundation work
Foundation work in progress
Foundation work completed
Columns installed
Rafters installed
Sheathing installation in progress
The community partner, Tsumugiya, just received the concept drawings of the Oshika House from Doogs Design, the design firm in Tokyo.
Concept Plan
Concept Drawing of Building Assembly
They are also going to have the first meeting with a local contractor in a few days. The design team will visit the site to meet with the women's group as well as the contractor and other stakeholders in the next week.
The Mermamaids invite us to tour their bento-making operation out of "Oshika House," a modular unit designed by Doogs Design to be quickly built on a site. This flexibility has allowed Mermamaids to launch a, to date, very successful bento business - serving the only bento in the area to villagers, port and construction workers alike.