Hall,
Auren Community Center Plaza

Oren Plaza opened in nature-rich Takata Park.

Built in the center of Joetsu City in Niigata Prefecture, "Auren Community Center Plaza" opened in September 2017.

Its nickname, "Oren," is a phonological combination (onyomi) between the "cherry blossom (ou)" of spring and the "lotus (ren)" of summer at Takada Park, and has been well received by the public for its familiarity and ease of pronunciation. At the center of the facility is an open courtyard surrounded by three areas: the hall, the community center, and the childcare support facility. The community center and childcare support facilities include a conference room, a kitchen, a pottery room, and a children's center. All these rooms are facilitated with all-season and all-weather playground equipment. It is a space where citizens can comfortably gather even when there are no events in the hall.

A versatile hall with retractable seating

The interior design of the approximately 600-seat hall was inspired by the white hues of snow falling in Takada, Joetsu City and the hexagonal shape of the crystals. These patterns harmonise throughout the hall, from the ceiling to the inner walls and the acoustic reflection panels on the stage, reminiscent of the stunning snowfield of Joetsu City.

In addition to hosting artistic performances such as concerts and theatrical performances, movable seating has been introduced in the hall to utilize the space for additional purposes. The front of the audience area consists of manually operated seating wagons, while the rear combines roll-back seat stands in addition to fixed seats.

The roll-back seat stand is an electrically operated movable seating system that can be deployed in a staircase configuration of approximately 300 seats or retracted into the wall with a single remote control. The installed seats are of the luxury type with firm cushions; therefore, even at first glance, it is hard to tell that they are retractable. The backrests and seat are stuffed with urethane, allowing the audience to sit comfortably even during lengthy performances. The upholstery is silver grey, and the wooden parts of the backrest and armrests are naturally coloured, a colouring that echoes the interior architecture.

The wagon seats in front of the audience seats can be shifted to a space under the floor, while all the roll-back seat stands behind the audience seats can be retracted into the wall. Furthermore, when the hall wall is partly opened, the lobby and hall space are integrated. The hall can be used for events (e.g., exhibitions, etc.), as a space for light exercise or for large-scale events spanning the entire Oren Plaza.

At the classical concert held to commemorate the museum's opening, many citizens gathered and expressed their hopes and expectations for the new facility. Since its opening, the facility has contributed to the creation of a more bustling Joetsu City as a place for community interaction.

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