Cylindrical Green Roofed Japanese Tsunami Control Center Lets Waves Pass Right Underneath

You can't stop a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/tsunami">tsunami</a>, but maybe you can design a building to withstand its uncontrollable forces. Looptecture F is a two-story tsunami disaster preventive control center in Minamiawaji located on a bay leading in towards Osaka. The circular, rusty steel building, designed by <a href="http://www.paramodern.com/" target="_blank">Endo Shuhei Architect Institute</a> is lifted off the ground to let waves go under it and the round shape will dissipate the water's forces. Topped with a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/green-roof">green roof</a> and outdoor living terrace, the tsunami center has many views of the water and the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/gargantuan-floodgate-that-blocked-japanese-tsunami-elicits-waves-of-gratitude/">floodgates</a>.

Looptecture F was built to monitor and aid in the event of a tsunami as well as to educate visitors about the dangers of tsunamis.

Inside the two-story building is space for the control room, an exhibition room, and a disaster learning room.

Resembling a ribbon coiling in on itself, the building is a cluster of intersecting circular volumes.

The tsunami center references the nearby port using a palette of rusty steel with a series of porthole windows around the exterior to provide views out into the bay.

The aim of the circular volumes is to disperse the stress from the incoming water and by not having any planar surfaces, the water will hopefully slide around the building, rather than pushing on any one surface.

A green roof and outdoor terrace is accessed via a spiral staircase in the center and affords visitors views and a safe place to be outside.

The main floor is elevated off the ground level to protect the inhabitants and let water pass through underneath.

Inside skylights and porthole windows pull in daylight into the space.

A central spiral staircase leads to both floors and the roof.

Inside, materials are simple - white walls, concrete floors and rusty steel accents.

An elevator sits at the center of the staircase.

The windows around the perimeter allow for views of the entire bay, but are also very strong in case of a tsunami.

These large rooms are available for exhibits about tsunamis to teach visitors about their dangers.