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01-262
PROJECT FOR A CONVENTION CENTRE
/ NARA (JAPAN)
/ 1991
This project precedes by several years that of the Flagey building in Ixelles
(01-251)
and the Aula Magna in Louvain-la-Neuve
(01-268 and 01-291)
. The entire
composition has been designed, according to the architect, as a series of strata
that ‘constitutes a progression of public and theatrical spaces towards private and
technical spaces’. This passage from public to private is a secular tradition that can
be found in ancient Greek and Egyptian temples, and proscenium arch theatres
as well as in more recent constructions. Alexander and Chermayeff developed
this concept in their excellent publication, Community and Privacy, mentioned
in Chapter 9. It is also found in the work of some twentieth-century Japanese
architects, who wanted to create a sort of buffer zone between their achieve-
ments (mainly housing) and the urban context. In the Nara centre, the first stratum
is a closed, semi-circular plaza, which can be covered by a canopy and used for
outdoor performances in the manner of ancient games. It can be seen from the
semicircle of the facades. This precedes the second stratum, which includes more
enclosed areas of the main construction: lobbies and auditoria. The third stratum
contains the stages, dressing rooms and technical facilities for the halls, as well as
the centre’s administrative offices. The final stratum is where the service entrances
and loading bays can be found, which form a sort of security zone. The roof of the
hall and the stage is glazed and can be darkened with shutters; the dressing rooms
are arranged around a hanging garden. The exterior facade, fitted with louvered
vents in its lower part and supports for ‘continuous means of communication’ in its
upper part, unifies the entire composition, which is completed by a walkway and a
harmonically structured ‘signal tower’. The project takes advantage of natural light-
ing. Automobile access is via a spiral ramp that pierces the facade.
Second floor
First floor
Ground floor
Lower level