[Ishikawa Prefectural Library] (Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, former province name: Kaga)

As one of the leading cultural cities in Japan, Kanazawa has provided important insights into various aspects of Japanese history. In particular, there are many noteworthy achievements in the fields of crafts and architecture, as exemplified by the father-son duo Taniguchi Yoshiro (1904-1979) and Yoshio (1937-), who led the Japanese architectural world for two generations. Furthermore, as tourism resources gained attention following the decision to extend the Hokuriku Shinkansen, famous buildings such as the "Drum Gate at Kanazawa Station" were born one after another. These buildings, which incorporate a large amount of craft techniques that have been passed down from the feudal era, literally became the face of the "new era of Kanazawa" and played a role in shaping the cityscape.

Among these new buildings, the "Ishikawa Prefectural Library" has been attracting a lot of attention in recent years. The library was originally built in Kenrokuen in 1912, but after expansion and relocation, the old building located in Honda-cho in the city was closed, and plans were made to build a new building in Kodatsuno on the outskirts. The core of the concept was to make the new library a "problem-solving" library. This was aimed at going beyond the book lending and borrowing function of conventional libraries, and becoming a field where users could "search for knowledge". It was a "cultural platform" that blended with the local community and traditional culture.
The architect who responded to this concept was Senda Mitsuru (1942-). He is known as a leading figure in "environmental design" based on architecture rooted in local life. The keyword that symbolizes his architectural theory is "play-circulation structure". This is a theory that Senda proposed based on the playground equipment in parks and the activities of children there, linking a space that is "fun" and "comfortable" to "movement". In other words, the circular space and the activities that take place there bring about a sense of security and excitement, and at the same time induce "exploration of knowledge."

The first thing you will see when you actually visit the site is the "Bookrium." It is art that finds correlations between the contents of the vast number of books in the collection, and further expresses them like a planetarium, likening them to the movement of the galaxy. Not only will you be amazed by its beauty and freshness, but it also serves as a "proposal-type" book search service that allows you to freely travel through the galaxy according to your own interests by operating the device. By directly appealing to the sight and sound of the scale of intellectual exploration, children and adults alike cannot help but feel a sense of exhilaration.
Once you pass through the reception and stand in the "Great Hall," you will be overwhelmed by its scale. The three-story bookshelves surround the space on all four sides, and the way they are connected vertically and horizontally by aerial corridors is equivalent to a three-dimensionalization of the scale of the Bookrium mentioned earlier, and you even get the illusion of being lost in the near future. There is no doubt that the "loose ring structure" advocated by Senda is manifested here, but the inclination of the floors and the uniformity of the design of the bookshelves give the impression that the books themselves have a life of their own, and that they exude a sense of quality, like a "meeting hall" where they gather and discuss. Among them, flags indicating the directions are boldly raised in the colors of the "Kaga Gosai," and serve as indicators for research. Still moved, I stood under the flags and observed the bookshelves closely, and found that there were 12 themes divided by purpose and psychology, such as "raising children," "experiencing literature," "expressing yourself," and "learning about life," making it possible to select books that go beyond the general framework of science. In particular, the final theme, "The Blessings of the Countryside and the Fragrance of Culture - Ishikawa Collection," seems to encapsulate the rich climate and culture of Ishikawa Prefecture that I have experienced so far, and is very interesting for travelers. By selecting books from the perspective of climate, it seems to capture all sciences in a cross-sectional manner and present the essence and charm of the land. If you suddenly come back to your senses and look at the bookshelves around you, you can see that many people, regardless of age or gender, are reading books, discussing their contents, and immersed in their own pursuits. And I was reminded once again that the "quest for knowledge" is an enduring and irreplaceable pursuit.

Access: About 30 minutes by bus from Kanazawa Station

Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★ (There are quite a few people, but it's a large space so it doesn't bother you)

Visit date: Around 2pm on the second Saturday of October

*Some of the photos in this post were borrowed from a friend.

#IshikawaPrefecturalLibrary #Kanazawa #KanazawaCity #IshikawaTrip #IshikawaTourism #ishikawakanko #Hokuriku #HokurikuTrip #HokurikuTourism #KanazawaTrip #KanazawaTourism #KanazawaTime #SendaMitsuru #Architect #ArchitecturalDesign #ArchitectureLover #ArchitectureTour #FamousArchitecture #ArchitecturalDesign #ModernArchitecture #SpatialDesign #SpatialDesign #Library #LibraryLover #LibraryTour #LibraryArchitecture #EnvironmentalDesign #HistoryLover #SoloTrip #LifeWithTravel

Post by hanakin_kozakura | Oct 3, 2023