【Just Like a Park】Kazuyo Sejima's Hitachi City Hall is Amazing! A New Form of Public Architecture Where Citizens Gather
When you hear the word "city hall," what kind of building comes to mind? Many people might imagine a somewhat stiff place you only visit to handle paperwork.
However, the city hall in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, overturns that image; it is a place that feels just like a park. It was designed by the world-renowned architect Kazuyo Sejima. In this article, we will explore the appeal of "Hitachi City Hall," a new form of public architecture where any citizen can feel free to drop by.
A design where the interior and exterior are unified by glass walls
The most significant feature of Hitachi City Hall is its open and airy design. The building is entirely glass-walled, allowing you to feel the light and greenery from the outside no matter where you are. By blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior, the entire city hall gives the impression of being part of a park.
The government building is divided into several structures, with a roofed plaza called the "Large Roof Plaza" weaving between them. This plaza functions as a space for interaction where citizens can freely take a break or hold events.
The design concept is "a city hall like a park"
The designer, Kazuyo Sejima, is also known as a member of the architectural unit "SANAA," which worked on the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Her architecture always aims to be like a "park"—a place where anyone can easily drop by and various activities can take place simultaneously.
This philosophy is strongly reflected in the design of Hitachi City Hall. People can stop by during a walk even if they have no business there, use it as a meeting spot, or let their children run around. The goal was for the city hall to become a "place for everyone" that blends into the daily lives of citizens.
In fact, with people relaxing at the cafe inside the building, elderly people chatting on benches in the plaza, and families enjoying events, Hitachi City Hall has become a place of relaxation for many citizens.
A model case for new public architecture
Hitachi City Hall serves not just as an administrative facility, but as a hub that fosters a community for its citizens. It is a wonderful example that shows the potential of how architecture can change people's behavior and consciousness.
Whether you are an architecture enthusiast or not, please try visiting this "city hall like a park" at least once. You will surely be surprised by this new form of public architecture.
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