Tiny modernist house demolished
A 60-year old modernist home in Tokyo’s Nakano Ward has just been demolished. The ‘SH-60’ house was designed by Kenji Hirose. It had a floor area of just 29 sqm (312 sq.ft) and was designed for a famous painter and illustrator.
Modernist National Theatre to be demolished
The Japan Arts Council is moving forward on plans to demolish the National Theatre of Japan building in Chiyoda and replace it with a new theatre with a hotel on the upper floors.
Modernist city hall priced too cheaply, critics say
The former Yokohama City Hall, designed by famed architect Togo Murano and built in 1959, is still awaiting a final decision regarding its fate with some arguing that it has been priced too low.
Yokohama's modernist City Hall to be converted into hotel
A leading example of modernist architecture in downtown Yokohama will be preserved and incorporated into a large-scale office and hotel project.
For Sale: Modernist heritage-listed house in Meguro
| UPDATE: Land sold, and house relocated. |
|---|
The 81-year old house of modernist architect Kameki Tsuchiura (1897-1996) was listed for sale over the weekend. This is a very rare property to see available.
Built in 1935, the house was designed by Tsuchiura as his personal residence. The two-storey, wood-framed residence has two bedrooms and a study on the second floor, a living/dining room with vaulted ceiling and kitchen on the ground floor, and a bathroom in the basement. The house has a registered floor area of 176 sqm (1,894 sq.ft) and is on a 285 sqm block of land. It is a 8 minute walk from Meguro Station on the Yamanote Loop Line and is 600 meters from Ebisu Garden Place.Read more
Renewal of modernist theatre in Kyoto reaches completion
Construction and refurbishment of the 55-year old Kyoto Kaikan building finished earlier this month. The original hall was designed by leading modernist architect Kunio Maekawa (1905-1986) and built in 1960. However, theatre stages were too small and the building was not equipped for operas or ballet performances. The building’s condition was also starting to deteriorate.
Kyoto City spent 11 billion Yen refurbishing the South Hall which included preserving the Maekawa-designed exterior, while the Main Hall was completely rebuilt into a 6-storey hall with 2,005 seats.Read more
Iga City’s modernist government building may be saved from demolition
The 50-year old City Hall building in Iga City, Mie Prefecture, might just be saved from demolition after a building report suggested that repairing the structure may be cheaper than rebuilding it.
The city mayor has proposed restoring the south building and using it as a multi-purpose centre with library facilities. At a council meeting, however, concerns were raised about whether the building could be earthquake-retrofitted and how much it would cost to renovate it rather than destroy it.
Early estimates suggested that large-scale repairs and maintenance to the building could cost around 5.5 billion Yen (44.5 million USD).Read more