Former Hokkaido Government Office Building (Red Brick Building) Temporary Visitor Facility

The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, built in 1888, is known affectionately as the "Red Brick Office" and is an important cultural property that represents Hokkaido. It will be temporarily closed from 2019 for seismic reinforcement and preservation renovation work. During the closure, we planned a temporary observation facility with the theme "Only here and now" that can only be viewed during the renovation work.

・Cultural property preservation work, which is often off-limits to anyone other than those involved in the work, is utilized as displays content that anyone can observe up close at any time.
- By deepening the connection between this construction project and the local community, we will raise awareness of the local asset of the Red Brick Government Building and raise interest in protecting cultural assets and passing on traditional craftsmanship.
We have tackled the above issues.

This facility was built adjacent to the Red Brick Government Building, and the preservation work itself is used as displays content.
The octagonal tower, a symbol of the Red Brick Building, was temporarily removed due to roof construction, so it was placed inside the displays facility, allowing visitors to view it from a distance that allows them to appreciate the architectural details. In addition, the height of displays room on the third floor is aligned with the roof scaffolding of the Red Brick Building, allowing visitors to see the progress of the construction in real time through the windows.
Meanwhile, the east side of displays room facing the city of Sapporo featured displays that deepened the appeal of the region's cultural assets, such as the history of Sapporo and the historical significance of the Red Brick Government Building.
Amid growing interest in architectural culture, we hoped to raise awareness of the need to protect cultural properties through the preservation and renovation work, and by utilizing the work itself in urban development, we were able to help people reaffirm the importance of cultural properties as local assets.
During displays, workshops on brick, slate, and plaster were held, providing an opportunity for visitors to experience traditional craftsmanship and pass on these skills to the next generation, as well as deepen their understanding of the appeal and preservation of cultural heritage buildings.
As a sustainable initiative, waste materials from the construction site were recycled as materials for the temporary observation facility. Trees cut down for construction were sawn at a local sawmill and used to create the façade, signs, and displays models. In addition, roof slates that would have been discarded were sorted and repurposed into signs.
During the one-year displays period, approximately 150,000 people visited the exhibition, including many repeat visitors. In addition, 55 people participated as volunteers.
This temporary viewing facility was made possible only while the renovation work was underway.