The Nagareyama Environmental Awareness Center is intended to educate and inspire tourists and local residents alike on sustainable living. In a rural, suburban area along the Tone Canal, 30 km outside of Tokyo, Los Angeles based R204DESIGN was commissioned to design the new facility in the city of Nagareyama, Japan.

The 5 mile canal itself is a historic site, built in 1890 and involved more than 2.2 million workers. For 40 years the canal was a bustling epicenter of commerce for the city, but with the rise of the Industrial Revolution and the proliferation of railroads across Japan, it soon lost its purpose and was closed down by 1941. In recent years the local government has been seeking ideas to rejuvenate the area while respecting its rich history. Our concept was to bring new purpose back to the site by tying it to the Sustainable Revolution occurring in this day and age. The Environmental Awareness Center seeks to draw and educate ecotourists as well as residents of the local area on how to live and work more sustainably while preserving their local environment and ecosystems. The program features classrooms, a library, and other learning facilities.

The building itself is an extruded expression of the existing contours of the canal. The grass roof gives the appearance of the sloped canal beds being lifted straight up, revealing a glass box beneath the surface. The building and operations have been designed to minimize waste and encourage recycling in order to serve as an example of self sustenance. Excavated earth from grading is utilized to form a terraced landscape walk around the project. A forest garden provides food for the café at ground level, while also allowing visitors to learn how it’s done.