🏛 [Archive | Murano Togo Exhibition @ Yokohama] A look into the trajectory of a famous architect, touching upon the poetics of curves.

🏛 [Archive | Murano Togo Exhibition @ Yokohama] A journey through the poetics of curves, tracing the path of a renowned architect.

While I was looking back through the photos in my smartphone folder, I was reminded of a particularly moving exhibition.

That was the "Murano Togo Exhibition" @ Yokohama. I remember the venue being the former Daiichi Bank Yokohama branch, which had a quiet and sophisticated atmosphere (this may vary depending on the time and venue).

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🌀 Murano Togo's "Soft Architecture"

What came across throughout the exhibition was the architect's aesthetic, which is unrelated to "rigidity."

His architecture, which spanned the postwar reconstruction period through the period of rapid economic growth, is all in tune with the human body's senses, and his use of curves and light is elegant and warm.

Particularly memorable were:
• Model of the Nissay Theater's main hall and drawing of the curved ceiling
• Reproduction of Ashiya City Hall's openwork blocks
• Design sketches for the Hotel New Grand expansion in Yokohama (reference for relationships)

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📚 The overwhelming aesthetic of drawings and models

The exhibition room was filled with his numerous hand-drawn drawings and sketches, each of which seemed like a work of art.

The models were also detailed and elegant, and the exhibition layout allowed his design philosophy to emerge in three dimensions.

The use of materials that softly reflect light, the sculptural composition of the staircase, and his awareness of the relationship between city and architecture...
Every section reflected the architect's thoughts, constantly pondering "what is a space that embraces people?"

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📍The significance of seeing it in Yokohama

It was also striking how the softness of Murano's work seemed to overlap with the architecture and cultural facilities of the port city of Yokohama.
After leaving the museum, I also enjoyed some quiet time contemplating his depiction of "urban spaces" while walking around the Red Brick Warehouse and the seaside.

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🗒 Summary: An exhibition where you "feel" architecture, not just "see" it.

Murano Togo's works have a nostalgic yet futuristic beauty.

The exhibition was memorable for its gentle, careful creation of spaces for people between materials, light, and air.

This exhibition is a worthwhile experience for architecture lovers and those seeking quiet contemplation.

I hope to see it again someday, somewhere, as a traveling exhibition.

🏛 Building Overview and Historical Background
• The former Daiichi Bank Yokohama Branch, built in 1929 (Showa 4) to a design by Yoshitoki Nishimura (a leading figure in bank architecture), is a historic building made of steel-reinforced concrete, with three floors above ground and two below, covering a total floor area of approximately 1,900 square meters.
• Originally located along Honmachi Street, the building was partially relocated to a location directly connected to Bashamichi Station in 2003, and its exterior was restored. It has been designated a city historic building.

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🧱 Design and Architectural Features
• Its most distinctive feature is the semicircular balcony at the end of the Y-shaped intersection. The Tuscan columns lining the second and third floors create a classical, stately atmosphere.
• The building features Art Deco ornamentation and large triple-arched windows, symbolizing the stately yet elegant nature of bank architecture.
• The sides and interior are decorated with stone veneer and twisted columns, which are different from exposed concrete, creating a captivating, expressive aesthetic.

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🏙 Current Use and Future Plans
• In the past, the building has served as an art and communication hub, known as "BankART1929" and the "Yokohama Creative City Center (YCC)."
• "BankPark YOKOHAMA," a collaboration between Takenaka Corporation, CRAFTING JAPAN, and Goodroom, will begin operations in April 2025. Planned developments include a craft gallery, cafe, library, and shared office space from the basement to the third floor, creating a cultural hub based on the concepts of "CRAFTING PARK" and "Future Co-Creation BANK." It's scheduled to open around September 2025.
📝 Points to Check Before Visiting
1. Directly connected to Bashamichi Station, it's easy to reach on foot.
2. Be sure to take a close look at the exterior, especially the semicircular balcony and colonnade from the front.
3. Inside (when open), the high ceilings and stately space characteristic of a bank have been restored, creating an impressive design that blends Art Deco and craft.
4. Once open, visitors will likely enjoy new experiences, such as using the cafe and gallery, or attending craft events.

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This building is a symbolic legacy of Yokohama's financial, cultural, and urban history, and is now moving into a new phase. If you're planning a visit or event, we highly recommend taking a walk around Bashamichi and Sakuragicho before or after.
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