Yuji Tanabe Architects has designed a two-storey commercial building composed of two twin-like buildings in Kamakura, Japan.

The two twin buildings are arranged in a way that it creates a central courtyard between the two block.

Since the studio wanted to present the two blocks as a whole, the rain gutter system under the roof was taken out on the side facing each of the buildings.

The practice has set the openings across the passage and the courtyard at identical positions along the same lines, giving the buildings a mirror image of each other.

Structural features such as offset columns and double beams are exposed in the interior spaces.

This project has been longlisted in the business building category of Dezeen Awards 2020.

Architect: Yuji Tanabe Architects
Project: Kamakura Sasameza