Francesco Zonca for "Sou Fujimoto Architects"

Sou Fujimoto’s design for the Oita Hovercraft Terminal reimagines infrastructure as an open, landscape-like architecture.
Instead of a conventional enclosed building, the terminal is conceived as a light, porous structure with minimal walls, allowing views, air, and even potential tsunami waters to pass through.
A defining feature is its large sloping roof, which functions both as a public space and as an elevated evacuation platform, integrating safety into the architectural concept.
The project combines steel engineering with traditional Japanese timber, creating a balance between advanced technology and local material identity.

Overall, the terminal is not just a point of transit, but a hybrid of infrastructure, public space, and resilient design closely connected to its coastal environment.

OITA HOVERCRAFT PASSENGER TERMINAL.