Film Archive Center of Takamatsu - Renovation of Kagawa Gymnasium
Harvard GSD Option Studio 2019 Spring
Advisors: Toshiko Mori
Section Model | Film Archive Center of Takamatsu
Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium
Kagawa Gymnasium is one of Kenzo Tange's design in 1905s-1960s. Due to the unstable roof structure, the building is closed. The goal of the studio is to analyze the existing building and propose a new program and new design for the future renovated gymnasium. My scheme for the renovation is to minimize the reconstruction that may impact the original structure, while turn the program into a film archive center.
Site Condition
Analysis | Plan Geometry of the Existing Kagawa Gymnasium
Schematic Model | Program Inception
Scheme
The concept of the program for Film Archive Center initially came from the perspectival interior and the stepped seats in the Kagawa Gymnasium. The space is pragmatically suitable for converting into theater space, which needs large span as well, while it doesn’t require too much natural light. In the context of Kagawa, there is a tradition of Sanuki Festival, which is on its 13th year. While at this moment, there are only three cinemas in the town area of Takamatsu. They are all along the coastline, the New film archive center could fill the gap along te coast line. Besides film screening, the new film archive center could provide spaces for film archiving, workshop, conference and recreation. In the existing building, we have orthogonal structure in the middle, and wrapped surface on the two ends. The archive
room is put in the middle in the building, and two different sizes cinema theaters are located on the two ends. The large theater is of 225 capacity, ( 540 m2 auidtorium and 650 m2 the whole room. ) Which is right in the middle axis. The smaller experimental cinema theater is 110 capacity, (220 m2 and 285 m2 whole room.), which is slightly tilted to be perpendicular to the existing seats geometry. The archive in the middle also acts as a barrier for the sound of the two theaters, because they are facing each other.
Isometric Diagram | Ground Intervene and Volume Inside
The Circulation for the second floor is either through the round public elevator or the two stairs. The position of the stairs connecting 2nd and 3rd floor are changed to allow people go directly to the third floor lobby. The original belly ceiling is converted to a new perspectival shape, that invites you view into the building interior and you see the archive room through the ceilings. The surface creates a soft transition between the geometry from the triangle waffle structure to the columns and beams. To enter is to go through a lifted terrace to the lobby, which can also be used for stage during film festival public events. Also, an exterior amphitheater is designed under the cantilevered waffle structure at the back. The landscape of the site follows the perspectival concept as well.
Perspective Rendering | Front Entrance
Schematic Model | The interrelation of the structure and program
Plans | Asymmetry in symmetric system
In order to follow the slope curvature of the existing surface of the seats, the small theater is slightly angled oriented. The geometric form of the theaters is generated by offsetting the existing interior surface. The archive kernel would be a compacted five stories room that makes the full use of the height of the middle.
Site Model | Perspectival Landscape and Redefinition of Urban Front
Based on the hidden geometric logic in the building designed by Kenzo Tange, the expanding landscape and the new exterior addition reveals the order and beauty of the original structure. The lifted terrain at the entrance would provide a new platform for gathering and ceremony activities, especially for film festivals.
Sectional Model | Moments Sequence (from entrance to the back)
With the new imposed proposal, the sequence of experience is more about wandering around the building with a better perception of the variation of the surface and structure continuously with views and body distance.