Kouunji Kyakuden
The project was a reconstruction of the 140 years old reception hall, which was one of the facilities of the Buddhist temple Kouunji. The old reception hall had been loved by the local community for a long period; however, due to its severe damage over the years, it needed to go through reconstruction. The architect solved these issues by updating and harmonizing, also devising some systems to pass on the memory of local community to the next generation. As a result, not only did the new reception hall achieve a sense of nostalgia but also a presence in the historical context.
Kouunji Kyakuden Reception Hall of Temple by Hiroaki Iwasa has been highlighted as an innovative example of architectural design by the A' Design Award. Kouunji Kyakuden Reception Hall of Temple received the Bronze A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design in 2025. The A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award is an international, juried, academic and meritocratic design prize which recognizes superior design of skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions, religious structures, infrastructure designs, landscaping projects and more.
