This project turned out to be a long journey that we never imagined at the beginning. We spent a long time in this place, thinking together with the community members.
Initially launched in 2010 as a relocation and new construction project for the Nakatsugawa City Library, the project was halted midway through the pile-driving process after receiving various comments from citizens.
For the next 10 years, we conducted various discussions and studies on how to utilize the site located in the city center and what kind of functions and facilities would be essential for citizens.
These efforts resulted in the creation of a new program for a multi-purpose facility that combines four different functions, namely learning (library), citizen interaction, tourism, and childcare support.
Our goal for this project was to create a facility that would meet the diverse needs of citizens.
To summarize the four combined functions required for this project, we have organized them using three keywords.
A “mashup” layout plan that combines different functions enhances interconnection; a “reversible” space plan that can be used for multiple purposes maximizes usability; and a “borderless” circulation plan with as few partitions as possible aims to create a lively atmosphere.
This promotes multifunctional use and interconnection, bringing people of all ages together and creating a lively atmosphere that will make the city a comfortable place for everyone to spend time.
We visited Nakatsugawa many times on weekends. It was bustling with tourists walking around the post towns along Nakasendo and people lining up in front of Japanese confectionery shops that sold chestnut sweets.
We also witnessed the lively scene of people of all ages gathering at the Rokusai-ichi Market, held on the first Sunday of every month along the Nakasendo Road, with food stalls lining the street. We wanted to incorporate that liveliness into our project.
In addition, we decided to create a space that embodies the city's appeal by incorporating regional designs and materials that citizens take pride in, such as the local kabuki theater, Mt. Ena, the stunning Kiso cypress forest, and the granite rock formations along the Hiru River.
We ensured that every single pile remaining on the site would be utilized, which was an essential process for continuing the spirit of the initial plan and for responding to citizens' wishes.
We adopted a 5.4-meter column span to match the remaining piles on the site, thereby evenly distributing the load through a reinforced concrete substructure.
Additionally, to mitigate the increased load on the piles resulting from the expanded floor area compared to the initial plan, the superstructure was redesigned as a hybrid structure combining steel and reinforced concrete, thereby achieving weight reduction.
The use of steel frames with long spans has created an open space compatible with the new multifunctional use.
We made a conscious effort to incorporate the opinions and needs of various stakeholders as much as possible, considering the synergistic effects that could be created by responding to the functions of each facility, such as a library, childcare support, tourism, and civic activities.
We held a workshop with all library staff to gather their honest opinions. We also interviewed departments that oversee the operation of four functions, as well as 16 citizen groups that use the library. All opinions gathered through these processes were incorporated into the plan.
We were able to confirm the images that the client and architects had in mind by visiting five similar facilities.
Furthermore, we started visiting local timber associations, timber markets, and stone associations from the design stage to learn about the types of locally sourced materials and methods for utilizing them, including Kiso Goboku (five designated species of trees in the Kiso region, including cypress), chestnut wood from Gifu Prefecture, and granite from Hirukawa.
In addition, 3D modeling and simulation of visible aspects and thermal environments have enhanced the accuracy of the final design image, facilitating smooth consensus among all parties involved and ensuring that feedback is directly reflected in the design.
