Asano Junior / Senior Highschool 100th Anniversary Commemorative Ring and Square

浅野学園創立100周年記念リング及び広場

Yoshiyuki Kawazoe
3. juin 2020
All photos: Yoshiyuki Kawazoe
銅像の台座を起点とし、銅像前に広がるスペースを囲うようにリングを設計した。訪問者の意識は自然と銅像に向かい、そしてリングの上に登ると京浜工業地帯を一望することができる。
(浅野総一郎:日本を世界の工業国へ押し上げる礎となる、京浜工業地帯の埋め立て事業と発展に尽力し「京浜工業地帯の父」と呼ばれる。)

The natural shape of the existing square at the top of the hill was preserved. However, the existing statue is positioned excentricaly to the space. The ring encloses a space at the foot of the statue which directs the visitor’s attention towards it. The new structure becomes a supporting element, balancing the existing arrangement of the space. To the east the ring hangs above the steep slope of the hill. This allows for an unobstructed view towards the Keihin Industrial Area.
配置図: Site
リングの高さや傾きは、浅野総一郎の顔がよく見えるように、水平材とのバランスをみて慎重に検討した。
広場は荘厳な雰囲気をまとい、銅像が鎮座するに相応しい空間となった。

The height and slight inclination of the ring were carefully considered in order to allow the visitor a closer look of Soichiro Asano's face, and provide a balancing horizontal element. This gives the square beyond an air of importance, appropriate for a commemorative space.
リングはゲートの役目も果す。

The ring also plays the role of a gate. 
スラブを除く全ての部材は鉄骨ででき、溶融亜鉛メッキ処理が施されている。刻々と移ろいゆく太陽の光が、その繊細な造りを捉え、鉄骨は時間の経過とともに落ち着いたグレーに変わってゆくだろう。

Apart from the slab, all elements are made of zinc plated steel. Freshly applied the zinc captures the changing daylight emphasizing the details, while providing contrast to the simple concrete shape. As it ages the metal will settle into matte light gray, quietly complementing the dark ring.
コンクリートには、浅野総一郎に纏わるショートエピソードが刻まれた石が埋め込まれている。隣に刻まれた矢印はそのエピソードに関連する場所の方向が示されており、訪問者は彼の生涯について学びながら眺望を楽しむことができる。

On stones embedded in the concrete are engraved short episodes of Soichiro Asano's life. An arrow indicates the direction of a location relevant to the story. In this way the visitor not only can learn about his life, but also enjoy the view.
高強度であるダクタルによって、非常に薄いスラブが実現できた。このスラブを視覚的に邪魔をしないよう、その他の構造や手すりは極力小さいサイズの部材を選び、接続方法としてはボルトではなく溶接とした。

The high strength of the DUCTAL concrete allows for very thin, very simple slab. This became the highlight of the project.In order not to distract form this the steel structure and railings needed to be as visually non-intrusive as possible. We employed members with small sizes, and relied on welding, rather than bolts at connections.
詳細図: Detail
ダクタル(超高強度繊維補強コンクリート)を採用した珍しい構造体で、幅1800mm、端部の最も薄い部分の厚みはわずか32mmを実現。ダクタルコンクリートはもうすぐ特許が切れることから、今後広く採用が期待される素材だ。

We employed DUCTAL concrete. We envisioned the ring as a very thin elegant shape 1,800 mm wide and with thickness of 150 mm at center, and just 32 mm at the edge.
「このリングを歩くと、木々の間を抜け、海を見渡すことができるだけでなく、近代日本を切り開いた創立者の歩みが刻まれており、生徒たちが自分と向き合う場になることを意図しました。リングは超高強度繊維補強コンクリートによって、驚異的な薄さで成立しています。新しい時代に積極的に向き合い続けた創立者の意思の力を受け止めるデザインこそがこの場にふさわしいと考えました。」と川添善行さん
浅野学園創立100周年記念リング及び広場
設計・監理:空間構想一級建築士事務所
構造設計:KAP
施工:東亜建設工業
工期:2019年4月~2020年2月

Asano Highschool 100th Anniversary Commemorative ring and Square
Architects: Kousou.inc
Structural engineers: KAP
Building Contractor: TOA Corporation
Construction Period: April 2019 – February 2020

In early 2019 we were invited to redesign the space around a monument of Soichiro Asano located in the campus of Asano Highschool in Yokohama. He was one of Japan’s pioneering industrialists during the second half of the 19th and the early decades of the 20th Century. The monument is placed on a hill appropriately named “Dōzōyama” literraly “Bronze Statue Mountain” which is overlooking the bay of Tokyo and the Keihin Industrial Area.

Infront of the statue there was a small open space paved in asphalt and surrounded by cherry trees. It was meant for commemorative gatherings, the daily exercise of the students, and a parking lot. As part of a broader campus planning project, the parking lot was to be moved and the small square refurbished. However, we felt that to properly celebrate the occasion we need to provide something more, to increase the visibility of the place and clearly tell the story of a great man.

We proposed the addition of ring-shaped viewing platform which would literally elevate the visitor closer to Soichiro Asano in order to better see his likeness and allow a better view from the top of the hill. Vie stones tiles engraved with short episodes from Asano’s life we strived to create a tool through which the visitor and the pupils could vicariously experience his successes and failures. When gazing through the cherry blossoms to the south-east one can comprehends the scale of the Keihin Industrial Area build on reclaimed land partially thanks to the pioneering efforts of Asano.

We envisioned the ring as a very thin elegant shape 1,800 mm wide and with thickness of 150 mm at center, and just 32 mm at the edge. The goal was not diverting the attentions away from the statue and the picturesque hill, both of which are symbols of the school. From the train the passes at the foot of the hill one could see the new installation as weightless ring which illuminated from bellow at night appears to float.

To achieve that we employed DUCTAL concrete which is a high strength steel fiber reinforced concrete. This allowed for extremely small thickness without any steel reinforcement. The material had also a symbolic value. It is produced by a cement company founded by Asano himself.

Currently in Japan, DUCTAL concrete has found limited use in architectural projects. Since there is no sufficient structural data and fire-resistance certification, it has found application mainly as a finishing panels or louvers and other non-structural elements. With the joint efforts of the manufacturers and builders we conducted experimentation, and hope that the gathered data will aid in terms of popularization and accessibility to this elegant material.

For our office the project had also a personal meaning as our founder is a graduate of the school.

Yoshiyuki Kawazoe


Posted by Neoplus Sixten Inc.

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