Tottori Takahama Café / Kengo Kuma & Associates

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The bathroom sinks are made by Nakai-gama, aTottoriMingei pottery workshop, which uses a beautiful combination of green and black glazing.As an homage toTottori, which is well-known for folk crafts (“Mingei”) culture, interior elements incorporate local craftsmanship. Chairs are designed with cross-laminated timber, while light pendants are made of Washi paper sprinkled with local sand.Text description provided by the architects.We designed an observatory/café that overlooks theTottoriSand Dunes, using wood abundantly in a hybrid structure of cross-laminated timber and reinforced concrete.Envisioned as a “staircase to the sky,” the cross-laminated timber exterior provides a warm texture that blends in with the surrounding sand dunes.