ERIS CHAN
Forensic Architecture: Kyoto Animation Arson Attack


On July 18, 2019, an arson attack occurred in the No. 1 studio of the Kyoto Animation building in Kyoto, Japan. The three-storey studio with a total floor area of about 900 sq.m., was severely destroyed by the fire. 36 people were killed, and 34 people were injured, with only one person left unharmed.

This project identifies issues pertaining to the building design and fire-safety measures that prevented its occupants from evacuating as per standard evacuation procedure upon the fire. By illustrating and simulating the incident as part of the analysis, the local building code proved to be a failure in regulating the fireproof performance and evacuation safety.



Toronto Metropolitan Department of  Architectural Science Toronto, CA.