Libraries are hot right now! Take a look at the library architecture tour (photography allowed inside the building)!

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File.6 Libraries are hot right now ! Let's take a look at the library architecture tour ( photography allowed inside the building) !
Miyuki Inoue (Copywriter)

With the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno, Tokyo now registered as a World Heritage Site, architecture is getting more attention. As I was looking around, I noticed a wonderful building in Kanagawa Prefecture: the Kanagawa Prefectural Library.
The designer, Kunio Maekawa, is one of Japan's leading architects, having studied under the architectural master Le Corbusier and been involved in the detailed design of the National Museum of Western Art, which was also designed by Corbusier. I want to emphasize that the prefectural library opened in 1954. In other words, it opened before the National Museum of Western Art (opened in 1959)! Kanagawa Prefecture may be amazing.
A tour of this wonderful building was held. As it was a special event held on a closed day, photography inside the building was permitted, something that usually requires permission. This is a must-see!

Because the museum is closed on the day of the tour, we head to the new building entrance on the south side (the Youth Center side) instead of the main entrance. On the way, we admire the exterior wall of the main building. Its shape, covered with hollow bricks called "hollow bricks," is beautiful.
The current hollow bricks were replaced during renovations in 2011, but due to budgetary issues it was not possible to replace them all. As a result, the grid pattern has unfortunately disappeared beyond the staff entrance shown in the photo.

The tour begins with a rare film showing the construction process. It is impressive to see that the building was constructed almost entirely by hand, even though it is made of reinforced concrete.
By the way, the person who spearheaded the design of the library was Kito Azusa, a staff member of the Maekawa Architectural Office. He is known as a pioneer of library architecture, having later designed the National Diet Library.

A staff member guided us to the general reading room.
The large atrium is open and comfortable. It's easy to see why some people have described the green garden outside as "like Karuizawa."
On the outside of the large glass surface, curved louvers are lined up in an orderly fashion, supporting the building while also preventing the western sun from penetrating into the building.

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

Another look at the hollow brick from the outside. By painting the inside white, the sunlight is reflected, helping to keep the lighting in the room uniform.
The original was fired in a kiln in Aichi Prefecture, but the restored version was fired in Shigaraki. Since neither the clay nor the kiln from that time remain, the piece was restored and restored through repeated experimentation with glazes.

When the library first opened, original chairs were also designed, which are said to have been created with the aim of providing the ideal position for reading a book, but unfortunately the originals no longer exist.
The one currently on display in the reading room is a reproduction based on the original document. It has been faithfully reproduced, so please sit down and take a look.

The stairs leading from the main entrance to the second floor. The handrail's shape and coloring are easy to grip, and are characteristic of Maekawa's architecture.

We even sneaked into the archives, which are normally off-limits!
The first and second floors of the library are fitted with bookshelves that run through two floors, which also serves to increase the strength of the building.

If you try looking under the bookshelf from the upper level, you can see the bookshelf on the lower level through the gap. It's kind of strange...

Ms. Yamashita Takiko was our guide for the library architecture tour (photography allowed inside the building). On the day, she was dressed in the basic library architecture colors of green, black, and yellow. As expected!

On my way out, I looked back from the music hall and noticed that the building itself had a sign saying "Kanagawa Prefectural Library." It was imposing and beautiful.

I have often used libraries, and I was amazed at how such a comfortable space was infused with the ideas and passion of cutting-edge architects.

By the way, the music hall that was built at the same time is currently undergoing renovations, so I would like to cover it again at another time.