SAPPORO CULTURAL ARTS THEATER hitaru

Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru opened in October of 2018. It is the first multi-sided stage in Hokkaido.

There are 2,303 audience seats, with three balconies in proscenium style. Meant to carry on from the Nitori Culture Hall (which closed in September of 2018), it has a similar amount of seating.

Audience seating based on the ideas of the facility staff and designers

Special attention was paid to designing a space where every seat had a good view, which included fine-tuning the angle of seatbacks, and the placement of seats. The difference between the angle of the seats on the first floor compared to those on the second is as much as 8 °. The backs of the seats on the second floor were designed to be straighter to support the backs of audience members who would be looking down to see the stage.

Even within the same floor, the angle is slightly different depending on the seat. The line of the gentle curve of the seats around the stage proved to be a key point in creating visibility. The angle of each seat was adjusted slightly so it would face the stage, and the odd and even numbered rows were staggered as well.

Natural wood from Hokkaido was used for the seats. This is a subtle design of contrasts - the back has strong straight lines, as if spreading roots down into the Northern land, and the armrests and legs have gently curving lines, enveloping the user.

In order to prevent opinion on seat comfort from being swayed by factors like gender or body type, a large number of staff helped by taking part in testing the seating mockups.

The outer end of the armrests are where the palms of the hand come into contact the most, which is why they have a finely designed shape with beveled edges to give them a soft and gentle feel.

Specially ordered upholstery with a deep color palette suitable to a space for art and culture

The cushion upholstery is meant to represent the threads of culture and tradition which can be seen running through the natural landscape of Hokkaido.

The red upholstery is well suited to a professional theatre. From a distance, it appears as if there is a gradation across the upholstery, suggesting the expansive Northern lands and their landscape. Upon closer examination, lines of patterning which echo the topography and traditional culture of Hokkaido are woven through in lines stretching horizontally. Blue, green, and yellow threads have been woven in, even appearing iridescent.