Kengo Kuma’s Bamboo Gate: A Resilient, Community-Centered Disaster Prevention Facility in Mabi, Japan
Kengo Kuma and Associates’ latest creation, Bamboo Gate, has become a symbol of resilience and recovery in the wake of the devastating 2018 torrential rains in Japan. Located at the Mabi Reconstruction Disaster Prevention Park in Kurashiki City, the facility blends architectural innovation with community involvement, utilizing local bamboo to create a space for both disaster prevention and community engagement.
The unique structure rises from a levee that had been damaged during the floods, forming two circular volumes connected by a sculptural, undulating roof. Its organic, low-lying silhouette evokes a gate-like portal, harmonizing with the surrounding landscape of the Oda River and nearby mountains. This architectural feature creates an open passageway through the structure, symbolically connecting the city to nature.
