JAPANESE MARTIAL ARTS CENTER – ICHIKUKAI, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

The project has been developed with the assistance of  the Foundation for Japanese Culture and Martial Arts - ICHIKUKAI. The building is situated near Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It has a square plan aligned with the cardinal directions and accommodates different activities connected to  Japanese martial arts, lifestyle and traditions. It is a classical dojo focused not only on combat skills but spiritual, moral and personal growth.

The core of the building consists of one large hall for martial arts training (haraiba + zendo) and two smaller halls for specialized exercises, all arranged around an inner yard with flowing water and lots of greenery. At the periphery there are: an office, guest rooms, rest rooms for trainees (specialized long-term training), kitchen, dining hall, and a genuine Japanese-style bathroom.

The kitchen is organized according to principles of traditional Japanese cuisine and dining style – diets and food preparation play a significant role in the training process and eastern philosophy in general. 

The outer walls are solid, composite with a total width of 50cm (30cm stone on the outside, insulation, bricks and wooden siding on the inside). Floors are also wooden with additional rice straw tatami coverings to meet the highest standards of traditional Japanese interiors.

The building is designed in such a way that regardless of the season training may take place in conditions as close as possible to the outside ones – a part of the specific requirements for consistent martial arts exercises. The inner yard and the large windows provide close contact to nature and plenty of natural light all over the building.