Niijima's Imaginary Forest's Beauty in a Translucent Religious Edifice

The Niijima Gakuen Junior College Hall and Chapel, serving both as a hall and a church, beautifully captures the panoramic beauty of Niijima's imaginary forest on its transparent façade, implying spiritual values and the essence of life.

Niijima Gakeun Junior College Hall and Chapel by Tezuka Architects (cr: FOTOTECA) 

It serves both as a hall and a church (cr: FOTOTECA) 

Constructed as an extension to the renowned Niijima Academy, which was taken from a historical story about a Japanese youth named Joseph Hardy Niijima who was determined to fly to the United States to study Christianity and return to sow religious seeds in his hometown, Annaka. The philosophy that Niijima spread in his hometown grew rapidly and gave birth to a religious school, namely Niijima Academy, which was then symbolized as Niijima's imaginary forest.

Taken from a historical story of Joseph Hardy Niijima (cr: FOTOTECA) 

The mesmerizing views of Niijima's imaginary forest (cr: FOTOTECA) 

Consisting of two floors, with the first floor as a multifunctional room and the second floor as a hall and chapel, this building depicts Niijima's imaginary forest on a 56-meter façade full of spiritual values ​​and the meaning of life. This sketch is depicted through thousands of hexagonal dots arranged following the storyline of Adam and Eve, who were sent down to earth full of commotion because they broke the rules in a picture of a dense dark forest leading to a field with a glimmer of light. The sketch forms a painting of trees and leaves that allow sunlight to filter through and flood the interior with its light. Not only shows the beautiful forest shadows but creates an immersive experience of being in a dense forest with sunlight penetrating through the trees.

Niijima Gakeun Junior College Hall and Chapel Floor plan (cr: Tezuka Architects) 

Niijima Gakeun Junior College Hall and Chapel Section (cr: Tezuka Architects) 

In line with Niijima's imaginary forest, the building's main structure incorporates wooden blocks arranged in a Vierendeel structure, which distributes the force throughout the building and minimizes vibrations during earthquakes. This design makes the spaces inside more spacious and filled with a tree-filled ambiance.

Constructed using wooden blocks arranged in the Vierendeel structure (cr: FOTOTECA) 

The glass wall enveloping the building provides structural support and serves as a canvas for Niijima's imagined forest, which is visible from various angles. Natural light that floods the interior creates a spiritual atmosphere and casts enchanting shadows, symbolizing God's revelation.

The captivating views of Niijima's imaginary forest in every angle of the building (cr: FOTOTECA) 

The Niijima's imaginary forest graces the walls with its beautiful sketches (cr: FOTOTECA) 

Niijima Gakuen Junior College Hall and Chapel, with its transparent façade adorned with the beauty of Niijima's imaginary forest, serves as a gathering and worship space that seamlessly merges architecture and art.

Niijima Gakuen Junior College Hall and Chapel blends architecture and art (cr: FOTOTECA)