Wide Roof on Wooden Teikyo University Elementary School Gathers Heat and Water in Japan

It's not easy to create an organic, wholesome environment in a city that is as dense as Tokyo- unless of course you're <a href="http://kkaa.co.jp/works/teikyo-university-elementary-school/">Kengo Kuma</a>. One of the most <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/kengo-kuma/">recognized architects in Japan</a>, Kuma clad the sprawling Teikyo University Elementary School with heat-treated cedar to help distinguish it from a suite of unsightly apartment buildings nearby. Hit the jump to find out how that massive roof contributes to the project's overall eco sensibility.

Kengo Kuma and Associates designed the wooden Teikyo University Elementary School in Japan

The three storey structure has an overall footprint of 7,788 square meters

A solar collecting device circulates warm air through the building in winter

The interior is light, breezy and open, yet also boasts pockets of privacy as well

An atrium connects all three levels

The sloping roof has a rainwater capture system