AZ Awards 2024 Finalist: Gateway to Onomichi

Award of Merti: A+ Award for Student Work

Gateway to Onomichi

The proposed seaside building, composed of intersecting parabolic ribbons, is part of a larger revitalization initiative.

Year: 2024
Student: Oonagh Davis
School: Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Instructor: Mohsen Mostafavi
Category: A+ Award for Student Work

Onomichi, a port city in the Japanese archipelago, was a hub for shipbuilding, carpentry and fishing until, in the early 20th century, a railway link to Tokyo began drawing residents away. The proposed Gateway to Onomichi — a seaside building composed of intersecting parabolic ribbons — is part of a larger revitalization initiative. The structure would include a carpentry workshop, sailing and boat-building schools, a transit hub and a ferry terminal to replace one that was demolished in the 1980s. The design embodies juxtapositions: concave and convex lines, rustic timber and sleek glass, memories of the past and aspirations for the future.

Award of Merit: A+ Award for Student Work

Gateway to Onomichi

The proposed seaside building, composed of intersecting parabolic ribbons, is part of a larger revitalization initiative.