The first town hall to receive this award! Koshimizu Town Disaster Prevention Complex "Watashino" wins the Silver "PHASE FREE AWARD 2024"

Evaluated as a model case of "phase-free public facilities leading to regional revitalization and improved resilience"

    
"Watashino," a disaster prevention center complex in Koshimizu Town, in which NOMURA is a collaborating company, has won the Silver award at the "PHASE FREE AWARD 2024" (sponsored by the Phase Free Association, a general incorporated association).
"Watashino" is a hub for community revitalization and disaster prevention, a public-private partnership that aims to "create a place to stay both in everyday life and in times of disaster, to revitalize the town and create a sustainable city."
Our company participated as a collaborating company and was in charge of planning the lively area, spatial/VI concept design, and opening PR.

The seven participating organizations and companies are as follows:

NPO Groundwork Koshimizu
Renaissance Co., Ltd.
OKULAB Co., Ltd.
Atelier Bunku Co., Ltd.
NOMURA Co., Ltd.
Calorie Inc.
Ebase Solutions Co., Ltd.
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The Koshimizu Town Disaster Prevention Complex "Watashino," a public-private partnership project in the town of Koshimizu, Hokkaido, has been awarded the Silver prize in the "PHASE FREE AWARD 2024" (sponsored by the Phase Free Association). This is the first time that a town hall building has received this award.
"Watashino" aims to revitalize the town and create a sustainable community by creating a place for people to stay both in everyday life and in times of disaster. It is the first Phase-Free certified multi-functional facility in Japan located next to a town hall.

"Phase-free" is the idea that things and services around us can be free from the phases (social states) of "everyday" and "emergency," and can be useful not only in everyday life but also in emergencies. This award aims to realize a society where people can live in peace and prosperity without being affected by disasters, and one Gold, Silver, and Bronze award will be given to products that are recognized as having particularly high phase-free characteristics in the business and idea categories.

"Watashino" was born in the wake of the blackout caused by the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake in 2018, with the idea that it was more important than ever to create a disaster-resistant town where residents could live safely and securely. Incorporating the concept of "phase-free," the town hall building is equipped with functions that enrich daily life and bring people together (community space, cafe/laundry/fitness gym & studio). In the event of a disaster, it becomes a disaster prevention base and can be used as a soup kitchen, laundry, shower, and rest area.

The award was given to the facility on two points: versatility and effectiveness. The facility was praised for its Silver rating for "compared to a typical town hall, it is equipped with a variety of facilities that are highly useful to the townspeople, and its structure, which allows it to be used on a regular basis while also being a place to evacuate in an emergency, enhances its effectiveness," and "Making public facilities phase-free can be highly evaluated as a model case that leads to regional revitalization and improved resilience."

Using this award as an opportunity, we will work to further revitalize "Watashino" and revitalize the community, thereby contributing to solving social issues such as depopulation and an aging population.

Phase-free support for "Watashino"
Phase-free concept
Facilities that are used on a daily basis will serve as temporary evacuation sites and disaster response headquarters in the event of an emergency. The fitness gym and studio will accommodate evacuees, the community space and cafe will serve food, and the laundry's emergency water and power supply will be used to maintain hygiene by washing clothes. In addition, underfloor heating using hot spring heat will keep you warm in the unlikely event of a power outage. Their usual places will reduce the stress and burden of evacuation life for evacuees, ensuring their safety and security.
 

Phase Free Award Evaluation Points *Excerpts from the organizers' evaluation. For details, please see the official website.
Compared to ordinary town halls, it houses a variety of functions that are highly useful to residents, and has received high marks for its "ability to influence daily quality of life" and "functional concept design," as well as its "emotional concept design" with its simple exterior and relaxing space that encourages people to linger for a long time.
The building is designed to be used on a regular basis and to serve as an evacuation site in the event of an emergency. The building is home to all the functions needed in daily life, such as laundry, cooking, exercise and relaxation, and which are even more important in an emergency, making it a highly versatile space that can be used by many residents of all ages.
 

Future Initiatives
On October 27, 2024, Watashino will conduct a disaster prevention simulation in Japan's first Phase-Free certified government building with the participation of townspeople. Assuming an earthquake occurs, the entire building will be cut off from power and water at the same time to verify Phase-Free response. For more details, please see the announcement scheduled to be made in mid-October.
 

List of affiliated companies and roles