Makoto Kato, Takeshi Murakuni, Yukihiro Takahashi (Atelier-BNK)

The design is for the new government building in Niseko Town, Hokkaido, located in a region of Japan experiencing heavy annual snowfall. We sought to combine a cross section that minimizes snow damage with a government building program based around an open plan. All the reception rooms were located together on the 1st floor, the executive offices were on the 2nd floor, and the assembly rooms were on the 3rd floor. The compact 2nd and 3rd floors are placed slightly above the large 1st floor roof for which a cross section designed to catch falling snow was adopted. Natural light floods in from the skylight to illuminate the deep recessed center of the 1st floor. Visitors are greeted by the welcoming weather-resistant brick and sheet metal façade and the white birch interior.