Buddhist Temple Renovation, 2026 – built
Hishida Koumuten
This project is the renovation of a shrine built in 1740 in Tokyo. This temple architecture is a traditional Edo Nichiren temple style, with wooden post and beam brame, exposed beams and rafters inside, and sliding wodden lattice doors. The interior is simple, a central altar with a Nichiren statue sided with smaller altars and a rare Namagami Kishimonjin statue, made with the real hair donated by over 70 000 women.
The temple god is dedicated to children, as such the project is to provide safe space for them to play around.
The goal of the intervention was too keep the original soul of the building, keeping the wooden structure and the large open space but redesign it to provide play space for kids. the stairs have been replaced and are slightly curved as to embrace and invite play around. The materials are kept simple and natural, hay, wood, and clay for the floor.