OFFICE IN OMIYA TRAFFIC PARK

The previous management building had an air of being closed off. For the new one, we focused on three points: 1. Staying within the scale of a park facility. 2. Presenting a welcoming front on all four sides. 3. Lowering the psychological threshold for users to step in. Our inspiration was the pavilion you find in parks—continuous with the ground, open to anyone who wanders in, offering effortless ease. To address the tendency for functions to multiply and walls to thicken, we placed the meeting room at the center and organized the office and public restrooms to the east and west. By keeping the structure firm while allowing the building to open lightly in all directions, we aimed for a space like a pavilion connected seamlessly to the park itself.

In this park, the architecture is never meant to take center stage. We preserved as many existing trees as possible and kept the buildings unobtrusive. Each structure is placed at a slight angle so it has no “back,” no matter the viewpoint. On the undulating terrain, a broad, low roof lets the building settle naturally into the land, offering a quiet presence that blends gracefully into the park’s landscape.

By adopting a rational structural strategy, the building achieves a simple framework based on standard commercial modules while still realizing a column-free conference room measuring 10,920 × 15,470 mm. The facility is also designed to function as an evacuation center in the event of a disaster, and it provides the required seismic performance corresponding to Use Category II (1.25) in structural calculations for public buildings.

To bring the surrounding scenery into the interior, the walls were covered with mosaic patterns of earth-toned Japanese paper. The same paper was also used for the pendant light shades, creating a gentle connection between the ceiling and the walls. Each sheet of this paper was handcrafted by Wataru Hatano, a master of Kurotani washi, and carefully layered by hand.

The systems surrounding the park have changed dramatically, making the previously distant management building a more familiar presence for citizens. This represents a significant shift for the park. Going forward, the ways this building will be used are likely to expand even further. We designed it as an architecture with the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of changes. We hope it will be freely and fully used by the community, while quietly supporting the park’s many activities.