In this semester of 2017, São Paulo will gain a new tourist attraction.
Japan House is a
global initiative of the Japanese government that promises to bring a new perspective on contemporary Japan to the world's major capitals. The cultural center will present to the people of São Paulo a perfect translation of the country in the 21st century, combining art, technology and business through immersive experiences. Japan House will be located at
Avenida Paulista, 52, next to Praça Oswaldo Cruz, at the intersection with Rua 13 de Maio. The location was chosen because it has heavy foot traffic and is easy to access. The project is designed by Kengo Kuma, author of large buildings such as the Folk Art Museum of the China Academy of Arts, the Darius Milhaud Conservatory in Aix-en-Provence, France and the Tokyo National Stadium, the central stage of the Olympic Games in the city, in 2020, in partnership with the São Paulo office FGMF Architects. The existing building will gain Japanese aspects in harmony with Brazilian features. The Cultural Center
will have three floors. The façade will have a curtain of wooden slats crafted by Japanese artisans, in dialogue with a wall of cobogós, common elements in Brazilian modernist architecture. Doors Sliding doors will provide flexibility to the space, which can be easily expanded and reduced. The space will house an exhibition hall, spaces for lectures and seminars, a library, a restaurant with Japanese food and a craft shop. 
