Location: Aomori Prefecture, Japan.

Architect: molo + d/dt Arch + Frank la Rivière Architects inc.

The Nebuta-no-ie Warasse is dedicated to the ancient Nebuta Festival in Aomori, Japan. It was opened on January 5th 201 and features a screen of twelve-meter-tall steel ribbons wrapping the whole building and enclosing an outdoor walkway. Visitors enter the Nebuta Hall, a large T-shaped space recreating the darkness of the city streets by night, with black polished concrete floors, black stucco walls and a black painted ceiling. Each year, five new prize-winning Nebuta take up residence in the Nebuta and the cycle of designing and constructing the Nebuta starts all over again.

Photo credits: Shigeo Ogawa, Frank la Riviere.