Tokyo Bunka Kaikan exterior
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Listen to a morning concert at a venue featuring
the modernism architecture of Kunio Maekawa
The architect Kunio Maekawa (1905-1986) was the leader of modernism architecture in Japan. Entering Ueno Park from Ueno Station, you are immediately confronted with the massive concrete eaves of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, which was designed by Maekawa in 1961. As one of the few architects who studied under Le Corbusier, the influences of his teacher can be seen in his use of color, such as the red walls and blue ceilings.
The interior of the building features numerous points of interest, such as the concrete pillars with wood grained patterns designed to blend in with the park background, the lobby floor tiles based on a leaf motif, the gold relief designed by the sculptor Masayuki Nagare, and the intentionally and randomly placed light fixtures. A morning concert is performed once per month in the cave-like Small Hall. The rock-like objects on the wall, designed by Nagare, function as echo plates, which allow concert goers to enjoy a special audio experience praised by musicians throughout the world.
Lobby
Floor tiles designed after a tree leaf motif
The Small Hall that evokes the image of a cave
The wall designed by sculptor Masayuki Nagare