Oita Library

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
Project Name: Oita Library
Alternative Name: Oita Art Plaza
Architect(s): ArataIsozaki
Location: Oita, Japan
Address: 3-31 Niagemachi, Oita, Oita Prefecture 870-0046, Japan
Building Type: Public Library/Museum
Design/Construction Dates: Design= [1960-1964], Construction= [1964-1966]
Completion Date: June 1966
Client(s): Oita Prefecture
Size: Total=3,686.7㎡

Budget/Construction Cost: Unknown
Collaborators: Japanese Office for Architecture

II. BACKGROUND/ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:

Arata Isozaki designed the Oita Library in Oita Japan. Six years before the construction of his library, the Oita Medical Centre stood there, before it was demolished in 1960. In 1961, Arata started his design process for the library, along with the Japanese Office for Architecture, and the construction began five years later in 1966. Made from exposed concrete, this building became Arata Isozaki’s second largest commission he has received from his hometown. Although it was named the Oita Library, it was only a functioning library for thirty years until 1996 when it became an art plaza. The Oita Library building still stands, but is now known as the Oita Art Plaza and primarily functions as a museum. [JA]

Isozaki was working under one of the greatest Japanese Brutalist architects as well as his mentor since university in Tokyo, Kenzo Tange to complete the Oita Medical Centre in 1960; only in a couple of years, Arata Isozaki received the commission to build Oita Prefecture Library near the medical centre. Oita Library opened in 1966, in his interview with Michael Blackwood, Isozaki said even years after he has moved to Tokyo, he still came back often to visit his very first own project, “diploma project” for modern architecture (Shikata 2008, 75). Isozaki often heard negative criticism on the unusual design from the locals, but ironically only recieved positive comments from professional architects, Isozaki did not mind the controversial feedback, as he believed that having conflicting opinions on his design showed that Oita Library was not an oridinory building with no soul, allowed people to read different characteristics from the design. [AH]

In early 1960, several Japanese architects formed the new Metabolism Movement; they aimed to express direct technical developments that were corresponding to Japanese’s economic and social status(Koshalek 1998, 37); for example, Oita Library was built with raw concrete and steel, materialwise had nothing related with the surrounding traditional Japanese wooden houses. Similar to Metabolist buildings during that post era, both wanted to express the industrial expansions with raw matierals and design, but Isozaki was not interested becoming one member, he did not agree with how Metabolist architects believed the "facile expansion and tendency of modern architecture" should only be "satisfying utilitarian needs." (Koshalek 1991, 38) [AH]

III. INTENTIONS OF THE ARCHITECT

It could be assumed that one of Arata Isozaki’s intensions to build Oita Library was to prove his capability for working individually from Kenzo Tange. As in Richard Koshalek’s book Arata Isozaki: Four Decades of Architecture, he stated that Oita Library was “substantial enough to enable him to set up his own design firm.” (Koshalek 1998, 39) [AH]

In Michael Blackwood’s interview with Isozaki (Blackwood Production 1985), Isozaki no longer worked under Tange after they finished with Oita Medical Centre together; Isozaki was confused by Tange’s attempts on merging traditional Japanese architecture with western architecture (interview byBlackwood Production 1985). Thus, being the very first project after leaving Tange, designing a public library was definitely a challenge that would determine if Isozaki was capable to work individually. Also the location of Oita Library was near Oita Medical Centre, which might be another reason why Isozaki would quickly accept the commission, he was also eager to prove to his previous teacher Tange. [AH]

Before Arata Isozaki designed and constructed the Oits (Prefectural) Library, he was loosley associated with Metabolism Architecture, a post-war Japanese Architectural design that has a futuristic appearance. [JA]

Arata began with the Metabolism style, as this was the style that his mentor Kenzo Tange, an architect from the University of Tokyo, specialised in. Arata Isozaki admired his mentor, yet wanted to change his style of designs to be able to create some of his best work. Arata's change in style and creation of his own practice did not disconnect him from Kenzo Tange, as they continued to collaborate on many esigns as Arata began his own firm. [JA]

Arata's decision to move away from Metabolism in the early 1960s gave him the inspiration to design the Oita Prefectural Library, designed with the Brutalism style of Architecture. [JA]

IV. DRAWINGS

Site plan:

Siteplan with roofplan (Koshalek 1998, 38) [JA]

Siteplan with first floorplan (Koshalek 1998, 38) [JA]

Building plan:

Roof Plan (Isozaki 2000, 225) [AH]

Third Floor Plan (Isozaki 2000, 225) [AH]

Second Floor Plan (Isozaki 2000, 225) [AH]

First Floor Plan (Isozaki 2000, 225) [AH]

Sections:

Section 1 (Koshalek 1998, 39) [JA]

Section 2 (Isozaki 2000, 227) [AH]

Elevations:

Front Elevation (Koshalek 1998, 39) [AH]

East Elevation (Isozaki 2000, 227) [AH]

Renderings (axonometric and/or perspectives):

Axonometric (Koshalek 1998, 41) [AH]

South Section Perspective (Koshalek 1998, 41) [AH]

Section Perspective (Koshalek 1991, 38) [JA]

Other (sketches, details, models, etc.):

*V. PHOTOGRAPHS*
Exterior:

East Entrance (Boyd 1968, 69) [AH]

Northeast Entrance (Oshima 2009, 46) [JA]

Northeast Entrance (Oshima 2009, 47) [JA]

Entrance (Oshima 2009, 15) [AH]

Southeast (Oshima 2009, 44) [JA]

Oita Library with Oita Medical Centre on the right (Oshima 2009, 46) [AH]

Interior:

Bridge over Borwsing Hall (Koshalek 1998, 42) [JA]

Borwsing Hall (Boyd 1968, 69) [AH]

Borwsing Hall (Koshalek 1998, 41) [JA]

Children Reading Area (Oshima 2009, 45) [AH]

Reading Room on Level Two (Boyd 1968, 69) [AH]

Corridor on Level Two (Oshima 2009, 226) [AH]

Above Entrance Hall (Koshalek 1998, 40) [AH]

Gallery 1 (Oshima 2009, 227) [JA]

Gallery 2 (Oshima 2009, 226) [JA]

Gallery 3 (Oshima 2009, 226) [JA]

VI. CONSTRUCTION
Construction system(s):

In the initial proposal for Oita Library, structural elements were supposed to be prefabricated units, but due to the restricted budget, Arata Isozaki had no choice but to finish with cast-in-place concrete. (Koshalek 1998, 36) [AH]

What runs through the Oita Library is reinforced concrete frame, dividing the exhibition area into a “core section” by “paired walls and subsidiary units composed around the beams,” which according to Koshalek's text, the concrete frame design was inspired by “skelecton system.” (Koshalek 1998, 36) [AH]

From the exterior, visitors shall be able to see the repetition of the concrete beams extending from the core, which extended from the exhibition and browsing areas. Outside the entrance on the second level, a small resting platform is designed before entering through a 15-meter concrete ramp; in the two-storey high, 38-metre long and 9-metre deep core hall, a circular “concrete-walled browsing area” and a bridge suspended across mid-space are vertically and evenly dividing the negative space. Stairways are hidden in a double wall that lead up to the office and down to book storage rooms. (Boyd 1968, 66) [AH]

Materials used
a) exterior:

Exposed Concrete, Glass, Steel Beams (Strength/Suspension) [JA]

b) interior:

Exposed Concrete, Polished Concrete, Glass, Steel Beams (Strength/Suspension) [JA]

Environmental Systems:

During summer, the concrete frame in Oita Library would transport cool air through the “protuberant, box-shaped beams” into the body of the building, this ventilation system is built with interwoven, paired walls as well as the hollow rectangular beams through the construction.(Koshalek 1998, 36) Sufficient natural light is introduced in through glass window walls in browsing areas as well as reading rooms, but only installed limited artificial light for book storage areas. [AH]

VII. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE/ INNOVATIONS INTRODUCED:

When the Oita Library was first being designed, Arata Isozaki also began to think of designing a cultural centre and the Oita Medical Centre, constructed next to the ruins of a castle moat adjacent to the site of the Oita Prefectural Library.

Though Arata designed three buildings in a very close area, the Oita Prefectural Library stood out and became Arata Isozaki’s first official public commission, and the beginning of Arata’s own firm as a result of his unique use of exposed concrete. Whilst the use of concrete was popular throughout Japan from the 1950s, it was more commonly used to mimic the characteristics of wood/timber. Arata designed it in order to promote masonry designs based on his overseas travels, resulting in the Library to become one of the most unique buildings in Oita Prefecture during the 1960s. [JA]

Arata Isozaki believed that Oita Library was innovative for suggesting a “new modern architecture in Japan” both constructively and conceptually. (Isozaki 2000, 225) Being the first commission granted to Isozaki, he made Oita Library a tour de force; considering the library as a poetic growing organism. [AH]

Oita Library had many avant garde structural qualities such as inventive geometries, convincing structural masses and brutal expressions by using direct reinforced concrete, however Isozaki was also explicitly drawn to express a paradox of “unexpected, impressive and expressive spaces, exploiting contrasts of height and scale, changes in level, vertigo, colour and chiaroscurist devices.” (Boyd 1968, 66) For the interior, Iszoaki used the combination of concrete geometries to elaborate with the idea of "growing architecture" that is not so visiable, but for the exterior, Isozaki brutally exposed the concrete beams to the public which is extremely visible; the controversial thinking behind the two spaces in Oita Library eventually innovated an architecture that is poetic and paradoxical. (Petit 2008, 153) [AH]

VIII. ANALYTIC DIAGRAMS

Parti diagram:

Parti Diagram [JA]

Parti diagrams showing plan organisations. [AH]

Program diagram:

Programs with transitions. [AH]

Structure diagram:

Horizontal structure of the floors. [AH]

Vertical structure of the walls and beams. [AH]

Tectonics diagram:

Tectonics of the overhead bridge. [AH]

Details of the bridge installation (surface layer) to the wall. [AH]

Ornament diagram:

Ornament diagram of the exhibition hall. [AH]

Ornament Diagram of the interior [JA]

Site/Context diagram:


Site/Context in Oita Prefecture [JA]

Site/Context Diagram [JA]

Site diagram of Oita Library in relation to Oita Medical Hall (built by same architect). [AH]

IX. ANNOTATED REFERENCES

Books:

Boyd, Robin. 1968. New Directions in Japanese Architecture.

Interesting descriptions of the building so soon after it was built. [JA]

Isozaki, Arata. 2009. Arata Isozaki.

Great detailed diagrams and interior and exterior images of the Oita Library. [JA]

Koshalek, Richard and David B. Stewart. 1998. Arata Isozaki: Four Decades of Architecture. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd.

Basic introduction but good starting point to get to know Oita Library, also has good biographical information. [AH]

Koshalek, Richard. 1991. Arata Isozaki: Architecture 1960-1990. New York: Rizzoli International Publications.

Same auther but with much more information, clear drawings and photos. [AH]

Nobuyuki Yoshida and Yutaka Shikata. 2008. Interviews with Arata Isozaki in Asia. Tokyo: Shinkenchiku.

Interviews with Arata Isozaki, useful explanations on Isozaki's design intensions. [AH]

Oshima, Ken Tadashi. 2009. Arata Isozaki. London: Phaidon Press.

Amazing interior and exterior photos and drawings, good academic discussions on Isozaki's design process. [AH]

Articles:

Bharne, Vinayak. 2007. "Journal of Architectural Education Vol. 61: Japan-ness in Architecture"

Description of Isozaki's past design inspiration and style in Japan. [JA]

Corkill, Edan. Jun 1, 2008. "Arata Isozaki: Astonishing by Design." The Japan Times.

Provides historical information and innovations about Oita Library and Isozaki's other designs. [AH]

De Jongh, Karlyn; Gold, Sarah; Romagnini, Valeria. May, 2014. "Time, Space and Existence."

Written interview between Isozaki and multiple others to give various impressions. [JA]

Isozaki, Arata. 1991. "Arata Isozaki & Associates: Japanese Art Center, Krakow, Poland." GA Document: 52-53.

Explanation on Isozaki's shift in his general thinking about design. [AH]

Petit, Emmanuel. 2008. "Incubation and Decay: Arata Isozaki's Architectural Poetics - Metabolism's Dialogical "other." MIT Press: 152-163.

A detailed study on how Isozaki's background influenced his design principals. [AH]

Websites:

Atsushi http://space.geocities.jp/atrium0510/archi/oita/02pre/index

Atsushi's experience in Oita Art Plaza, documenting with the atmosphere and historical background (in Japanese). [AH]

Giovannini, Joseph. August 17, 1986. http://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/17/magazine/arata-isozaki-from-japan-a-new-wave-of-international-architects.html?pagewanted=all

Good general information source for style, type, etc. [JA]

Isozaki, Arata and Bernard Tschumi. 1991. "Arata Isozki, Part II Special Feature." Space design: 005-136.

Analysis on Isozaki's typical techniques. [AH]

Michael Blackwood Production (video) http://monash.kanopystreaming.com.ezproxy.lib.monash.edu.au/video/arata-isozaki-early-work-japan

Interview on Isozaki's personal thoughts about Oita Medical Centre with mentor Tange, as well as Oita Library. [AH]

Thuroczy, Maria. November, 2011. http://architectuul.com/architecture/oita-art-plaza

Brief but detailed explanation of where the Oita Library came from. [JA]

X. LINKS

Arata Isozaki http://www.isozaki.co.jp

Official website of Isozaki's firm based in Tokyo. [AH]

Location http://www.worldarchitecturemap.org/buildings/oita-art-plaza

Good general information source for site and location. [JA]

Oita Art Plaza, Old Oita Library (旧大分県立中央図書館) https://eng.archinform.net/projekte/398.htm

Basic architecture information, linked with a useful travel blog article. [AH]

Oita Art Plaza http://www.art-plaza.jp/

Description of the change from Oita Prefectural Library to Oita Art Plaza. [JA]

-- AriSeligmann? - 2014-02-13