Renovation of the former Hokkaido Government Office Building (Red Brick Building)

The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building (commonly known as the Red Brick Office, completed in 1888) is a historic structure that represents Hokkaido and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property by the national government. A large-scale renovation project was planned to mark the 150th anniversary of the naming of Hokkaido, and the building was renovated into a "hub for disseminating information on Hokkaido's history, culture, and tourism to both domestic and international audiences."
In this project, we were responsible for various surveys to consider the preservation and utilization of the red brick government building, the basic concept for renewal, displays design, and construction displays.

・Understanding and passing on the value of the Red Brick Building as an Important Cultural Property
・Increase the attraction of Hokkaido as one of the leading tourist spots, and displays allow all visitors, regardless of age or nationality, to learn about and enjoy Hokkaido.
・In collaboration with various parts of Hokkaido, displays will become a source of information that will attract all kinds of people to Hokkaido, and will generate the driving force to invite people to all parts of the prefecture.
 

We have received the above request.

○ concept design that pays homage to architecture
The main focus of displays is on the "architecture" itself, which conveys the architectural techniques and concept design of the time of its construction, as well as the historical culture of politics and industry, and we have taken care to ensure that visitors can fully enjoy the charm of the architecture.The newly installed items are deliberately concept design in a modern style to create a striking contrast with the historic buildings and to create an impression of the red brick government building living in the next generation, taking on new roles.

○Various themes and unique spaces
The museum introduces the charms of the Red Brick Government Building and Hokkaido from a variety of perspectives. Each room is assigned a theme, such as architecture, Ainu culture, Hokkaido heritage, and the 179 cities, towns, and villages of Hokkaido, and each room has a unique displays concept and is concept design with a different space and experience. Each room offers surprises and discoveries, creating a fun experience as you wander around the building.
 

- Subjects and displays methods that stimulate curiosity
We have devised displays that draws attention to the history and culture of Hokkaido and its cities, towns and villages. We aimed to stimulate curiosity through themes and methods that make visitors want to get up close and take a closer look and try out things, such as a diary in which the Governor of Hokkaido wrote down his thoughts, a floor map filled with Ainu place names, dynamic footage of Ainu dance, miniature sculptures representing each of the approximately 100 heritage sites of Hokkaido, displays shelf with all 179 cities, towns and villages from all over the prefecture, and a Hokkaido darts game.

○Communicating from various perspectives
displays reexamines history and the region from a modern perspective, taking into account the trends of the times, and incorporates a system in which Hokkaido residents are the ones who communicate. Cities, towns, and villages from all over the prefecture, those who protect and pass on Hokkaido's heritage, and three generations of Ainu culture carriers are all participating in displays. This diversity of perspectives and communicators is expected to dispel visitors' preconceptions and assumptions about Hokkaido, deepen their interest, and encourage them to travel to various parts of the prefecture.

We have been able to implement displays arrangements that incorporate rich ideas and extensive experience that the government alone would never have thought of, and these have been well received by many visitors.