

shigeru ban to complete mount fuji world heritage center

image courtesy of shigeru ban architects

established international architect shigeru ban has been chosen to construct mount fuji’s world heritage center in japan’s shizuoka prefecture. the scheme was selected ahead of 238 competing designs before an announcement was made by the development’s review committee, chaired by the prestigious hideji ohara museum of art.

articulated around an inversely shaped latticed cone, the design celebrates the mountain’s relatively recent status as a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. the 4,300 square meter project will cost around 2.4 billion japanese yen to complete and is envisioned as a base for future generations to understand and observe the importance of the mountain and its surrounding area. with construction beginning in 2015, the world heritage center is scheduled to open to the public by 2016.