Important Cultural Property Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward

Built in 1910 (Meiji 43) and designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1974 (Showa 49), this is a representative example of wooden pseudo-Western style architecture in Hokkaido.
The former Hakodate District Public Hall was closed from October 2018 for large-scale preservation and repair work, the first such work in 40 years, but it reopened in April 2021. In accordance with the preservation and utilization plan based on the concept of "a public hall that everyone can protect, see, learn from, and gather in," displays design concept is "HEROE'S JOURNEY," and it not only provides explanations of the architectural highlights but also introduces the skills and aspirations of the famous and unknown pioneers (heroes) who were instrumental in the construction of the former Hakodate District Public Hall.

Given that the building itself is a designated Important Cultural Property, careful consideration was given to concept design to avoid damaging the landscape and the overall atmosphere of the interior. Furthermore, to minimize damage, no fixtures were fixed in place, and meticulous care was taken during installation and adjustment.
Furthermore, using augmented reality (AR) apps on smartphones, valuable furniture and furnishings are explained in multiple languages, and their appearance as they might have been used at the time is recreated in real living spaces.


[Social Issues / Customer Issues / Requests]
Despite the increase in the number of tourists visiting Hakodate, the number of visitors to the public hall was on a downward trend, and the exterior, interior, and displays were in a considerably old and dilapidated state.
Furthermore, the number of local residents visiting the building was low compared to the total number of visitors, and there was a lack of communication regarding the building's history and the appeal of its interior that would motivate people to visit. Although it was built as a "building for the citizens," in order to preserve it as a source of pride for the town, it was necessary to convey its value to those living today and encourage them to use it.


[Solution]
We believe that understanding the reasons and value of preserving the public hall is crucial for future preservation and utilization plans.
Following the Hakodate City government's plan, which prioritizes not affecting the preservation of the building as an important cultural property, we created videos and displays to inform visitors about the involvement of both famous and unknown local figures in the planning process, aiming to increase awareness of the building as a "public hall that citizens can be proud of."

[Sports Room: History Table]
When the building was constructed, a billiard table was installed in the sports room. displays stand, which is modeled after that billiard table, features a 1/100 scale architectural model accessory set that depicts the changes in the people who use the public hall over time, as well as "actual objects" of valuable designs and building materials that you can touch, and a map of Hakodate City's traditional building preservation district made of beautifully transparent colored acrylic cubes, adding a playful touch that will make you want to take pictures.

[Small Cafeteria: Theater]
A room formerly used as a dining hall has been converted into a small theater room, showcasing the history leading up to the construction of the public hall.

[Each room: AR explanation]
Using an AR app, you can enjoy overlaying the building's original motion and structure onto real-world scenery, allowing you to recreate the building's appearance at the time of its construction. displays is contactless and allows you to record and share your experience using your smartphone.


[Our project members]
[Sales & Project Management] Akihide Inoue, Kosuke Takeda
[Planning, Graphic Direction, Video Direction, Model Direction] Yuki Shimokuni, Remi Abe
[concept design] Atsuko Nakazawa (working drawings), Akika Yamada (schematic design)