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Libraries are hot right now! Take a sneak peek at the library architecture tour (photography inside is OK)!

今、図書館が熱い! 図書館建築ツアー(館内撮影OK)に潜入!

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File.6 Libraries are hot right now ! Sneak into the library architecture tour ( photography inside is OK) !
Miyuki Inoue (copywriter)

Architecture is attracting increasing attention, with the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno, Tokyo being registered as a World Heritage Site. With that in mind, I looked around and realized that Kanagawa Prefecture has some wonderful architecture. Kanagawa Prefectural Library.
The designer, Kunio Maekawa, is one of Japan's leading architects, having studied under the architectural master Le Corbusier and was also involved in the detailed design of the Western Art Museum designed by Corbusier. What I would like to point out is that the prefectural library opened in 1954. In other words, before the Museum of Western Art (opened in 1959)! Kanagawa prefecture might be amazing.
A tour of this wonderful building was held. Since this was a special project held on a day when the museum is closed, it was OK to take photos inside the museum, which normally requires application. I have to go for this!

Since the museum is closed on the day of the tour, we head to the new building entrance on the south side (youth center side) instead of the main entrance. Along the way, admire the exterior wall of the main building. It has a beautiful form covered with hollow bricks called ``hollow bricks.''
The current hollow bricks were updated during renovation work in 2011, but due to budget issues, it was not possible to update everything. As a result, the grid pattern beyond the staff entrance shown in the photo has unfortunately disappeared.

On the tour, we first watched a rare film that shows what it looked like when it was built. Although it is a reinforced concrete building, it is impressive to see that it was built almost entirely by hand.
By the way, the person who took the lead in designing the library was Azusa Kito, a staff member of the Maekawa Architectural Office. He is known as a pioneer in library architecture, including later designing the National Diet Library.

A staff member will guide you to the general reading room.
The large atrium is open and comfortable. No wonder some people look at the green garden outside their window and call it ``like Karuizawa.''
On the outside of the large glass surface, bent louvers are lined up in an orderly manner, supporting the architecture and at the same time preventing the afternoon sun from penetrating into the building.

This is the reading room on the second floor. This is what the "Hollow Brick" looks like from the inside. It is designed to block sunlight in the summer and let in warm natural light in the winter, while ensuring a certain level of privacy by blocking the view from outside.

Hollow brick from the outside again. Painting the inside white reflects sunlight and evens out the brightness of the room.
The original was apparently fired in a kiln in Aichi Prefecture, but the restored version was fired in Shigaraki. Since there was nothing left of the clay or the pottery from that time, it seems that they were able to restore and restore it by repeatedly making prototype glazes.

When the museum opened, the chairs were also designed with original designs. It is said that the design pursued the most suitable shape for reading a book, but unfortunately no original remains.
What is currently in the reading room is a reproduction based on the original material. It seems to have been faithfully reproduced, so be sure to sit down and experience it for yourself.

Stairs leading from the front entrance to the second floor. It is said that the characteristics of Maekawa architecture are evident in the shape and coloring of the handrails, which are easy to grip.

Sneak into the library that you don't usually go into!
The first and second floors of the library have bookshelves running through them. In other words, by penetrating two layers of bookshelves, it also plays a role in increasing the strength of the building.

When I tried to look under the bookshelf from the upper floor, I could see the lower bookshelf through the gap. It's kind of strange...

Ms. Kiko Yamashita served as a guide for the library architecture tour (photography allowed inside the library). On the day of the event, they chose to wear green, black, and yellow, which are the basic colors of library architecture. As expected!

As I was leaving, I looked back from the music hall side and noticed that the name ``Kanagawa Prefectural Library'' was displayed on the building itself. Majestic and beautiful.

I've always been indebted to the library, and I'm impressed by how the ideas and passion of cutting-edge architects have been poured into its comfortable space.

By the way, the music hall that was built at the same time is currently under renovation, so I would like to discuss this again.

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