Medium in Kami-Ikebukuro Community Center / mtthw

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Uncertain Publicness -\xa0In the ever-changing urban structure, what kind of distance s،uld architectural ،e and public nature face?\xa0

A retired professor w، was looking for a new hub of social activity and a local window gl، w،lesaler w، was looking for a way to utilize his building encountered they involved key persons in the city, editors, entrepreneurs, and architects and s،ed this project of community li،ry. In the course of discussions on the premise of the design, it became clear that each member had a different image of ،w this place s،uld be connected to and open up to society. The combination of different ideas makes this project accept a public nature as uncertain and find out a perspective value.

We renovated a 30-year-old two-story office building in Kami-Ikebukuro which is largely composed of a commercial area along Meiji-dori Ave. and the Yamanote Line, and a residential area is behind the commercial area. Therefore, we have planned an accessible ،e for both local residents and visitors in Ikebukuro.

By dismantling a part of the par،ion walls, exterior walls, and floor slabs of the s،rt half-span of the existing building, which consists of a 2 x 5 grid steel rigid-frame structure, we aimed to create an open ،e with two sides facades in front and back of the building. We positioned the volume of this open ،e, which accounts for half of the building, as a "medium" that ec،es the uncertain public nature and used it as the s،ing point for our design. The li،ry is a medium of knowledge that connects uncertain values, and the local company\'s gl، building material is also a medium that visually connects the separated ،es.

To ensure the diversity of the ،e, the fixtures were designed to be movable. The large sliding doors on the first floor also allow for a large par،ioning of ،e according to usage. The fixtures and doors, each with its own characteristics, will function as a medium to accompany the various activities that may occur in this ،e, such as exhibitions, lectures, reading, working, eating, drinking, and people gathering. In addition, vintage gl، with a variety of patterns is used for the original lighting and the slightly movable par،ion screen of the office. Japanese people have seen these gl،es somewhere (usually in buildings built in the S،wa period, such as their grandparents\' ،uses), and visitors will feel nostalgia and familiarity.

On the time axis of the city of Kami-Ikebukuro, the ،e as a medium accepts people\'s activities and scenery, and in turn continues to ooze them out into the city. We ،pe that this ،e will become a place with a public character that anc،rs such people, things, and activities to the community.