Classic Modern No. 34

Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall opened in 1954 as Japan's first public music hall. Modeled after London's Royal Festival Hall, the hall was designed for superior acoustics and was praised at the time of its opening as having "the best sound in the Orient." Its acoustics continue to garner praise both domestically and internationally. The hall's walls are entirely made of wood, and its acoustics continue to inspire audiences even 60 years after its opening. In 1998, the Ministry of Construction selected the hall as one of Japan's "Top 100 Public Buildings" for its exceptional community-based public facilities. In 1999, DOCOMOMO (an international organization established to document, research, and preserve buildings and environments related to the modern movement) selected the hall as one of Japan's "Top 20 Modern Movement Buildings" for its significant cultural heritage of the 20th century.