Kawarayu Onsen Playground NOA / Kawarayu Onsen Station Campsite

This project is one of the projects aimed at helping the residents of the areas that will be submerged due to the construction of the Yamba Dam to rebuild their lives and find meaning in life. For about six years, we were in charge of the basic plan, schematic design, working drawings, supervision, and consulting work to support the local management company for the "regional development facilities" in the "Kawarayu District" and "Yokobe District."
The Kawarayu district is a tourist destination with Kawarayu Onsen, which has been around for over 800 years, and is adjacent to JR Kawarayu Onsen Station. We proposed a "Station Front x Campsite & BBQ x Hot Spring Facility" project from the perspective of location characteristics, scenery, and business scale. While listening to the opinions of the local people, Naganohara Town, and Gunma Prefecture, we comprehensively planned and produced the project, from the launch and support of the local management organization, to attracting a campsite management partner, consulting on the business plan, and facility design, layout.
The facilities are divided by the JR Agatsuma Line. On the upper level is Kawarayu Onsen Play Base NOA, which has a cafe and hot springs, and on the lower level is Kawarayu Onsen Station Campground, which has an area where you can enjoy BBQs and bonfires, a wood-burning bath, a tent sauna, and where you can also canoe and kayak on the dam lake.

[Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests]
[Business] It was necessary to unravel what it means to rebuild lives and create a purpose in life for local residents. Through repeated discussions with everyone, we found issues that aim to revitalize the area, such as coexistence with the hot spring town, promotion of local employment, especially for young people, and promotion of a U-turn of the outflowing population.
In addition, it was requested that the facility be differentiated from facilities planned in other districts and similar facilities, and to have the ability to attract customers and originality.

[concept design] Considering the bridge used by tourists visiting the dam and its visibility from the busy opposite bank, the client requested that concept design be unique to the area, drawing in passers-by, and that the facility be easy to operate by harmonizing multiple uses (hot springs, restaurants, rest areas, observation decks, tenants, conference rooms, etc.).

【solution】
[Business] The Yanba Dam project took 70 years from planning to completion, but there are arguments for and against the construction of the dam, and many residents have moved out. What I did was propose a multi-view, bird's-eye view business plan. Hearing various business ideas desired by local residents, making proposals for their feasibility, making adjustments for non-competition with companies in the surrounding area, and taking into account the differentiation of each facility, We aimed for a project that emphasized the character of the district.

[concept design] The concept was based on the "Azuma River," which is the origin of the name of the former Kawarayu area. As concept design progressed, we received feedback from local residents that it looked like a "boat rising with the region on board," so we created a distinctive building that symbolizes these two concepts. The interior space is long and narrow from east to west, and we planned gentle curves and slopes that combine various functions to create an easy-to-use space with easy circulation.

<Our project members>
[Sales/Project Management] Satoshi Arai, Hitomi Yamamoto
[Planning and Consulting] Kenichi Sakazume, Yuki Shimokuni
[design, layout] NAU: Sakae Kirioka, Nana Osano