The Earth Library is designed for farmers who cultivate fields on sunny days and read books on rainy days. Located in a corner of KURKKU Farm, operated by an agricultural production company, the site is a flat, dry area nestled in a valley filled with construction waste.
Our aim is to restore the lush valleys that farmers refer to as mother ponds. We believe that buildings should not occupy the cultivated soil but instead coexist humbly beneath the thriving plants and microorganisms. The earth is regarded as the source of all life and a symbol of motherhood.
Our vision is to gently open a small crack in the earth, creating a tranquil resting place for farmers. From above, this crack resembles a drop of water. Walking across the plowed fields, a corridor lined with bookshelves emerges. Structural elements like beams and columns have been removed, replaced by cantilevered concrete void slabs extending from external retaining and wing walls. The ground, walls, and ceiling are all finished with soil, seamlessly connected. A lush lawn reaches up to the vertical floor edges, imparting a moist, vibrant atmosphere. This design detail can be adapted seasonally to balance irrigation and water conservation.
The interior ceiling height follows the natural slope of the ground, resulting in areas with lower ceilings and small hidden rooms accessible only to children. At its deepest point lies a storytelling hall. This womb-like space rises from the lawn, featuring folding bookshelves arranged around stepped seating. Books for farm workers and children line the shelves, supported by 40mm thick vertical bookshelf frames that extend up to head height, reinforcing the entire space.
When a slender vertical beam supports another, which in turn is supported by its adjacent beam, repeating this pattern creates a circular network that can uphold a large open space. This interconnected structure enables a social space that no single strong individual could create alone. The overhead light at the center symbolizes the agricultural community of KURKKU Farm, bringing the earth beneath blue skies and white clouds into focus. This is a library that reflects on the earth itself.
Project Drawings
△ Plan View
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Takumi Nakamura Architectural Firm & NAP
Area: 113 m²
Year: 2022
Photographer: Koji Fujii / TOREAL
Structural Engineer: Kanebako Structural Engineers
Location: Kisarazu, Japan
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