Architecture Asia Special Issue - ARCASIA Awards for Architecture 2020

HONORABLE
MENTION
B-4
Toyonake Performing
Arts Center
Public Amenity:
Social and Cultural
Buildings
Architect:
Satoshi Ezoe / NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD
Location:
Osaka, Japan
The imposing atmosphere of conventional community halls was eliminated by scaling the
building down to one that blended into the surrounding residential environment. The height
of the first and second floors was 3,150 millimeters, and the stages for the large and small halls
were located underground to suppress the building height. Furthermore, the small hall was on
the residential side to be in harmony with the surrounding environment. The low floor height
of 3,150 millimeters encouraged upward and downward movement of visitors and increased
interaction density. By reviving the former civic center car entranceway as a “plaza” surrounded
by trees, it became possible to recreate the bustling activity of people.
JURY CITATION: This project is a good example of saving the budget by controlling the
dimension and managing the internal space. The opinion that the project execution budget
can save 20% - 30% of the budget by reducing the unnecessary size and that the violence of
monumental buildings can be avoided through the overbearing size is persuasive. The low
floor height encourages upward and downward movement and increases interaction density.
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