In the quiet coastal town of Noroshi, located at the northern tip of Japan’s Noto Peninsula, a new structure has emerged as a beacon of collective recovery. Unveiled in early January 2026—exactly two years after the devastating Noto earthquake—the “Home-for-All Noroshi” community center represents a poignant fusion of memory and modernization. Designed by the Tokyo-based studio Klein Dytham Architecture (KDa), the 119-square-metre building is part of the non-profit initiative founded by Pritzker Prize-winner Toyo Ito. This project is far more than a simple replacement for lost infrastructure; it is a “last responder” intervention that prioritizes the emotional and social well-being of a community still healing from disaster. By salvaging thousands of traditional roof tiles from destroyed homes, the architects have created a sanctuary that honors the past while providing a structurally resilient future for the town’s residents.
A Dialogue of Renewal and Tradition
The design of Home-for-All Noroshi was not dictated by the architects in isolation but was born from an intensive, year-long dialogue with the local community and the town’s mayor. Founders Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham sought to capture a specific aesthetic tension: the desire for something optimistic and forward-looking that remained deeply grounded in the familiar traditions of the Ishikawa prefecture. The result is a structure that evokes the silhouette of a traditional Japanese farmhouse but is stripped of unnecessary ornamentation to emphasize its clean, modern lines.
Central to this dialogue was the decision to utilize traditional carpentry techniques. The region has a long history of master woodworkers, and by employing these methods, KDa ensured that the building felt immediately “at home” in its environment. This approach also served a psychological purpose; for residents who had seen their heritage crumble during the seismic event, seeing familiar craftsmanship reborn provided a tangible sense of continuity. The building stands not as an alien imposition, but as a refined evolution of the town’s architectural DNA.
The Weight of Memory: Salvaging the Kawara
The most striking feature of the community center is its roof, which incorporates approximately 7,000 reclaimed kawara (ceramic) tiles salvaged from a single destroyed local house. These jet-black tiles, weighing over 21 tons in total, carry an immense emotional weight for the community. In the 2024 earthquake, the sheer mass of traditional tile roofs contributed to the collapse of many older timber-frame buildings. However, for the residents of Noroshi, these tiles were also a symbol of domestic stability and cultural identity that they were unwilling to abandon.
To reconcile this historical weight with modern safety standards, KDa worked closely with structural engineers to create a specialized support system. While the mass of the tiles is beneficial during the region’s intense typhoons—keeping the roof firmly anchored—it requires sophisticated seismic mitigation. The architects implemented a robust cross-bracing system within both the walls and the roof planes. By carefully detailing the connections between the timber columns, beams, and foundations, the design ensures that seismic forces are absorbed and dissipated safely, preventing the catastrophic structural failures seen in the area’s century-old farmhouses.
The “Last Responder” Philosophy
Mark Dytham describes the “Home-for-All” initiative as a “last responder” in the cycle of disaster relief. While first responders focus on the immediate preservation of life and emergency infrastructure, recovery architecture focuses on the long-term process of “living.” This community center is designed to be a place of warmth and return—a social hearth where residents can gather to share meals, stories, and plans for the future. The interior reflects this philosophy, utilizing light-colored wood and open layouts to create an atmosphere of calm and inclusivity.
The project is the latest in a decade-long commitment by KDa to post-disaster architecture, following their celebrated “hat-shaped” community hall for the city of Sōma in 2016. These projects underscore the social responsibility of the architect, moving beyond the creation of shelter to the creation of social glue. In Noroshi, the center acts as a vital bridge between the emergency phase of recovery and the permanent reconstruction of the town, offering a space where the community can reclaim its sense of normalcy.
A Blueprint for Cultural Resilience
As Noroshi continues its slow journey toward reconstruction, the “Home-for-All” center serves as a blueprint for how other disaster-prone regions might approach rebuilding. It demonstrates that sustainability is not just about environmental metrics, but about “cultural sustainability”—the preservation of local materials and memories. The use of salvaged tiles significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the new construction while simultaneously providing a masterclass in the circular economy of building materials.
Looking ahead, Klein Dytham Architecture is continuing its support of the town’s revitalization, with plans already underway for the reconstruction of a local shrine that was also damaged in the quake. By focusing on these high-impact social and spiritual hubs, the architects are helping to ensure that the physical rebuilding of Noroshi is accompanied by a renewal of the town’s spirit. The Home-for-All Noroshi stands as a testament to the fact that while earthquakes may destroy structures, thoughtful architecture can help rebuild the hearts of those who lived within them.
