Main Hall (Renewed),
KAMAKURA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Mar. 22,2018

Theater / Hall

Project Description

Bamboo grove spread across the courtyard of Kamakura Performing Arts Center radiating peaceful 'Japanese' ambience

Kamakura Performing Arts Center located in Kamakura City of Kanagawa Prefecture is a hub built for the spread and promotion of art. The center was opened in 1993 and has been designed by Ishimoto Architectural & Engineering Firm, Inc. The courtyard with bamboo grove surrounded by a three-tiered high corridor at the back of the entrance hall offers an impressive view reminiscent of Japanese style that also suits a place like 'Kamakura Performing Arts Center'.

The seat has been renewed by reupholstering textiles and repainting wood parts

24 years after its opening, the center underwent a major renovation from January to September 2017 in response to the aging of the building. The stage equipment including acoustics & lighting were updated and the ceiling in the entrance hall was replaced. The seats in the main hall were reupholstered, and their wooden frames were repainted.

We chose a custom-made upholstery fabric with a new pattern matching the existing color tone to give a fresh look while taking utmost care not to significantly change the original character of the space. On the base yellow fabric, yarns of blue and green have been used to exude the beauty of the bamboo grove in the courtyard, or the elegance of the 'ancient Kamakura city'. The light coral color radiates warmth. With multiple colors of yarns interwoven, this beautiful iridescent textile changes its expression depending on how the light hits it.

Among the wooden parts with significant peeling of paint, parts such as the armrests or the backrests of the most conspicuous aisle seats were repainted in a dark tone matching the existing color. In addition, partial repairs have been made to parts with significant damage including missing pieces. The work was done diligently by removing each seat one by one to ensure unevenness and repair leaks.

The magnificent appearance of the auditorium, however, is not only the result of the recent renovation. The delicate design of the chairs from the armrests to the legs and the sewing of the back seat cushions with piping edges have been inherited since the center has opened, and they still maintain the same elegance.

Third-floor seats with enhanced accessibility

As part of the repair work, handgrips were installed on the 3rd-floor where the slope is steep.

Handgrips are optional and can be fixed to the backrest of the aisle seats to make it easy to go up and down the slopy passage. Compared to large handrails usually installed on walls or floors, handgrips do not eat up the passage space and are easy to install.

The bar-shaped handgrips with a straight line have been thoughtfully selected by the staff of the Kamakura City Office by actually touching and feeling the product from the standpoint of visitors. The palm-sized handgrips not only ensure minimal obstruction when watching performances, but also gel well with the entire seating space with their color tone matching with that of the wood of the chairs. The handgrips indeed make accessible while maintaining the aesthetic beauty.

Total 38 handgrips have been installed on the 3rd-floor. Since their installation, various events, or performances have been held by the center including the event hosted to commemorate the renewal opening in October 2017. The management of the hall appreciated the handgrips saying, "Visitors are using them naturally."

Project Summary

Location: Kamakura City, Kanagawa Map

Client: Kamakura City

Renewed: Oct, 2017

Seats: 1,500

Design upon completion: Ishimoto Architectural & Engineering Firm, Inc.

Special Website: KAMAKURA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER website

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