Geneto: L’Angolino

L’Angolino is an Italian restaurant in Tatebayashi, Gunma prefecture.

In contrast to a big city, Tatebayashi has a typical local city landscape, with many chain stores and giant shopping stores in roadside.

The client has a strong thought that his hometown should have identity and it needs a place (a restaurant) which can be a foothold for local people.

The architects tried to get identity as a restaurant and make an opportunity to change the town by making a building form not existing yet. The client thought that the building has a statement toward the town and it arises from the construction period already. He decided to build as self-build and had a communication actively for the locals passing by during the construction.

On the premise of the self-build and the building form not existing here, Geneto conceived a simple plywood structure. The building form became the pointed roof shape not existing in this town. It’s monocoque construction consisting of the structural plywood portal frame and the exterior wall.

The exterior is covered with waterproof FRP. The thin exterior wall carries the atmosphere of the inside to outside with light, sound and smell. Avoiding to be connecting the inside and the outside directly, the windows are just some small triangle.

L’Angolino, Tatebayashi city, Gunma, Japan
Program: restaurant
Architects: Geneto
Contract partner: pivoto, Kazuhisa Sunaga
Structural engineer: Takashi Takamizawa
Area: 61 sqm
Completion: April 2013