on the water photography has added a photo to the pool:
The NHK Kumamoto Broadcasting Station (NHK Kumamoto) building in Japan was designed by the Japanese architectural firm Yamashita Sekkei.
The building was completed in late 2016.
Building Details
Architects: Yamashita Sekkei Inc.
Location: Hanabatacho, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City
Design Theme: The building features a "Wabi" and "Wa" (Japanese style) theme, specifically tailored to harmonize with the nearby historic Kumamoto Castle.
Key Features: It incorporates a large ground-floor glass atrium (Heart Plaza), modern "Yarai" (traditional defensive wooden fencing) elements using hybrid greenery and wood, and seismic isolation structures.
At the time of the devastating April 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes (which registered the maximum Intensity 7 on Japan's seismic scale), the new building in Hanabatacho was actually actively under construction.
Earthquakes and Building Context
Construction Phase Resilience: Despite the severe ground shaking that heavily damaged historic structures nearby—such as Kumamoto Castle—the unfinished structural framework of the new station held up remarkably well. The planned seismic isolation technology successfully protected the integrity of the site.
Delayed but Safe Completion: While the dual disasters caused regional disruptions, work on the new facility smoothly resumed. The building was completed as scheduled in late 2016, and the NHK Kumamoto Broadcasting Station officially migrated its operations there in June 2017.
Designed as a Disaster Base: The 2016 disaster underscored the need for a modern, resilient broadcasting base. Because the original 50-year-old station in Chibajomachi was aging and vulnerable, the new Yamashita Sekkei facility was deliberately prioritised to act as a highly secure, disaster-resistant communications hub during future emergency events.
