‘Kizuki no Mori’: a forest of books
Kengo Kuma and Associates have recently completed this Chikujō Town Public Library, reworking a former public hall into a timber-filled civic space in rural Fukuoka, Japan.
Set within a quiet landscape, the new library presents a low, extended form whose edges are softened by a field of vertical wooden louvers. These slender members gather along the facade and entrance canopy, where they tilt and fan outward, forming a porous threshold between town and interior. Their spacing allows light to pass through while tempering the scale of the existing structure.
the Chikujō library entrance is framed by timber louvers that rise into a canopy | images ©︎ Masaki Hamada / kkpo
a timber canopy shapes arrival
Approaching the Chikujō library’s entrance, the louvers rise and bend into a broad canopy which the team at Kengo Kuma and Associates design to frame the main access point. The structure reads as both enclosure and filter, offering shade while guiding movement toward the doors. The rhythm of timber elements creates a shifting pattern across the ground, marking the passage from open plaza to covered approach.
This exterior intervention carries through to the interior, where the same language of vertical timber defines the central atrium. Here, Keichiku cypress (hinoki) is arranged in angled arrays that extend upward from floor to ceiling, tracing a series of branching geometries that organize circulation.
vertical wooden members shape a soft threshold between town and interior
kengo kuma transforms a concrete hall
Within the former public hall, Kengo Kuma and Associates’ insertion of timber alters both scale and atmosphere. The original concrete frame remains legible, yet it is softened by the density and warmth of wood. Light filters through the upper levels and moves across the angled members, producing a layered interior that shifts throughout the day.
Stairs and walkways pass between these timber clusters, offering varied vantage points across the library. From the upper floor, the arrangement reveals itself as a continuous field rather than discrete elements to guid visitors through reading areas and open seating without fixed boundaries.
the atrium is defined by angled hinoki slats that guide movement through the building
spaces for movement and concentration
On the ground level, the Chikujō library introduces a series of circular and stepped platforms integrated with low bookshelves. These elements support reading, play, and informal gathering, allowing children to move freely while remaining connected to books. The surfaces are finished in warm wood tones, with soft edges that encourage sitting and climbing.
Above, the second floor shifts in tone. Open stacks are arranged with greater regularity, and seating areas are positioned for longer periods of study. The ceiling grid and exposed services remain visible, giving the space a straightforward character that contrasts with the more animated ground level.
timber structures extend from floor to ceiling across the central space
children interact with books through stepped platforms and integrated shelves
curved seating and low shelving create spaces for play and gathering
circulation paths move between wooden elements and open reading areas
upper level stacks are arranged for quiet reading and longer stays
project info:
name: Chikujō Town Public Library ‘Kizuki no Mori’
architect: Kengo Kuma & Associates | @kkaa_official
location: Chikujō, Kyushu, Japan
area: 2,846 square meters
completion: November 2025
photography: ©︎ Masaki Hamada / kkpo
team: Hironori Nagai, Shota Kobayashi, Yoshinori Yaguchi, Yoo Shiho (Graphic)
construction: Matsuyama Kensetsu
structure: Kozo Keikaku Engineering
lighting: Electric Works Company, Panasonic Corporation
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