"Hexagons" and "Octagons" Everywhere
While looking around the building, I noticed something.
There are "hexagons" and "octagons" everywhere.
They are everywhere. I feel like I have seen this design somewhere before.
Kurashiki International Hotel.
In the case of the international hotel, it is a "hexagon," but the designer is the same, Urabe Chintaro, and the atmosphere is similar, right?
When I asked someone from Urabe Design about this, they said, "They may have preferred octagons, or it may have resulted from 'chamfering the square shape'."
The "Director's Room" is Used as a Conference Room and Dressing Room
Kurashiki Community Center has a "Director's Room."
During the time of the "Kurashiki Cultural Center," it was used as the director's room.
However, due to staff reductions and other factors, to improve operational efficiency, all staff members now gather in the first-floor office, so it is currently used as part of a conference room and dressing room.
Due to measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, chairs are stored in the director's room because seating in the lobby and conference rooms has been reduced.
The luxurious interior, such as the chandelier, gives a sense of the remnants of the director's room era.
The "Large Hall" with a Capacity of 387 for Citizen Activity Presentations
It is usually a large hall with a capacity of 387.
Due to measures against the spread of COVID-19, some seating is currently prohibited, and the capacity has been reduced.
It is still active as a slightly larger stage for citizens, such as for piano recitals.
The brass handrails and other fine details have gained character over time.
Ohara Soichiro's Dream: "Music Library"
The last introduction is the "Music Library".
About 2,000 SP records (Ohara Collection) have been donated, and subsequently, LP records, laser discs, and CDs have been added over time, making it accessible for not only Kurashiki citizens but also anyone including tourists to enjoy.
The phonographs that Ohara Soichiro loved during his lifetime, the Chini 2P and the Victrola 8-60, have also been donated later, allowing people to listen to the same music that Soichiro was passionate about.
If you would like to listen, please ask the staff for confirmation.
Conclusion
When asked about the charm of the Bikan Historical Area, I used to answer "traditional townscape".
However, now I respond a bit differently: "It is a place where people live, and old and new things are in harmony."
In the very heart of the tourist area, there is a community center used by residents, and it is still in use.
Kurashiki Community Center is relatively new among the buildings in the Bikan Historical Area, but I feel its charm lies in the fact that it stands naturally without feeling outdated or overly modern.
Generally, it is often thought of as a "rental room" for meetings and a place to use the restroom. However, if you think a little about "the meaning of its existence here," you might gain a different perspective.
Please take a visit and focus on the Kurashiki Community Center as a building.
- Article supervision: Urabe Design Co., Ltd.
- Photography (exterior): Sasaki Toshiyuki
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