Great to listen to! Great to watch! Enjoy the modernism of Maekawa's architecture at the Prefectural Music Hall

A world of art to visit, see and feel
File.17 Maekawa Architecture Tour in the Music Hall
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)

Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall - commonly known as the "Wooden Hall."
I think every classical music fan knows about this place, but the recent building boom has brought in new fans.
It was designed by Kunio Maekawa, a leading Japanese architect who studied under the architectural master Le Corbusier.
Putting aside the complicated aspects, it's simply stylish and cool!
When I heard that a "Maekawa Architecture Tour" was being held to celebrate the museum's 65th anniversary and reopening, I hurried off to check it out.

First, let's start with the entrance with its striking yellow frame.
The balcony walls are made of hollow brick, the same as the neighboring prefectural library. It is a functional design, but it was chosen for the music hall to maintain a consistent design. For more details, please see last year's report.
*For the library architecture tour report, click here>>

Maekawa's passion for color is immediately apparent from the entrance. He once said, "If I hadn't become an architect, I would have wanted to be a painter," and we nodded in agreement.
Although it is not a large space, the vibrant and impactful colors create a positive atmosphere, making it a suitable design for the entrance to a music hall.

The bright and open foyer is what gives the building a typical Maekawa architectural feel.
The neatly standing pillars are made of concrete, yet somehow they have a dignified and elegant look. If you look closely, you can see the wood grain, which is apparently because the concrete was hand-mixed and poured into a wooden frame. Looking back, it seems like a very analog construction method, but the concrete of that time was apparently much stronger and more beautiful than what we have today.
The floor is made of terrazzo (polished artificial stone), a construction method that also has a handmade feel, but even after 65 years, there is no sign of deterioration.

The music hall has been beautifully restored after undergoing renovation work over the course of one year and two months since last year, with the concept being "to restore it to its appearance 65 years ago." Therefore, the lighting fixtures have remained the same since the hall was first built. However, the light source has been changed to LED, so environmental considerations are being given.
By the way, the reason the ceiling looks uneven like a staircase is because the audience seats are located directly above it. It is designed in a gentle staircase shape to match the slope of the second floor seats.

So, into the hall.
The concert hall was modeled after the Royal Festival Hall in London. Although it is quite small in scale, the floor is stepped from the front to the back row, so you can get a good view of the stage from any seat.
According to Ishikawa Seiko, who was in charge of the acoustic design, the lack of protrusions such as a second-floor balcony also has an advantage in terms of sound resonation.

As the hall's nickname "Wooden Hall" suggests, everything from the soundboards on the stage to the walls and ceiling of the auditorium is made of wood. The wavy ceiling is also made of wood, of course.
It seems that as it was shortly after the war, it was difficult to come up with any other option than wood, but through careful consideration and ingenuity, they were able to create a sound that has been praised by musicians around the world as "the best sound in the East," which is amazing.

Also pay attention to the wall behind the second floor seats!
The perforated boards are bent like a folding screen. This is also a way to prevent sound from reverberating more than necessary. This wall has also been thoroughly cleaned and repainted, giving it a completely different, high-quality look.

We also visited the instrument storage room at the back of the stage. To protect the delicate instruments, the temperature and humidity inside the room are constantly controlled. In other words, this is "the most comfortable place in the music hall."

This is the waiting room behind the stage. I wondered why there was a concrete pillar in the middle... and it turns out that this space was added later. In other words, they brought in a pillar that was standing outside. It somehow has a very handmade feel to it.

I've been to the music hall many times, but this was probably the first time I'd seen a stage curtain. Don't ask yourself, "Is it necessary?" There's a deeper reason for this.
The music hall was planned shortly after the war. Apparently, some in the assembly were saying, "What's the point of building a music hall when people are struggling to get food?" To persuade them, the plan was promoted as a "public hall that everyone can use," and as a result, theater facilities such as a stage curtain and a projection screen were added.
However, the stage curtain was also designed by Maekawa. It seems that a new one was made this time based on the original materials, so if you have the chance, be sure to check it out up close.

Just as he designed chairs for libraries, Maekawa also designed various fixtures necessary for music halls. For example, poster display boards. The functional and modern designs are so beautiful that you might want to make a miniature and display it on your desk.

I overlooked it, but the music stands and the chairs that the performers sit on were also designed by Maekawa. The simple, uncluttered chairs would look great in a stylish cafe.

Finally, let's look back at the foyer after the customers have left.
I love the foyer, which is usually filled with the excitement of a concert and an extraordinary sense of thrill.
But I thought it would be nice to be in a silent music hall on a day when there is no concert.

The volunteer group Bridge, who guided us around, runs activities such as architecture tours to familiarize people with local culture and art, with the three keywords "enjoy," "learn," and "connect."
thank you very much!

The "Maekawa Architecture Tour in the Music Hall" will continue to be held in the future.
This time I participated in the full course (approximately 60 minutes, participation fee 500 yen).
The short course, which lasts about 20 minutes, is free to participate in and does not require prior registration, so feel free to come along!
*For more details, please visit the special website