An architectural design studio and furniture manufacture, the single-storey building contains a reception area, an open architectural studio, a wood workshop, and a metal workshop. The principally timber structure on concrete foundations is made from local ekki wood, and the design of the roof is drawn from the Japanese art of origami. 30-cm cavities between the interior and exterior surfaces, including the roof as well as the walls, are filled with mineral-fibre insulation panels to minimise heat absorption. Another Japanese technique, shou sugi ban, was used to preserve the timber window frames from water damage by scorching them with hot flames.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture