The Nissay Theatre is an architectural masterpiece from one of Japan’s leading architects, Togo Murano. Every part of the detailed design invites visitors into a world apart from the everyday, including the marble floors, the red carpeting and grand staircase, and the delicate railings following the spiral staircases.
The walls in the audience hall are covered in a mosaic of beautiful glass tiles, which change color depending on the angle from which they’re viewed, and on the colored plaster of the ceiling, 20,000 pearl oysters have been glued. The decoration of the space recalls the depths of the sea, as if it were some sort of temple on the seabed, and with its uniquely fantastic feel, the theatre delights all who visit.
The renovations took place for six months, from December 2015 to May 2016. The plush and beautiful space of the theatre was preserved, which the machinery of the stage was overhauled, and the seating underwent a grand renovation.
With renovations, it’s common for seating to be entirely replaced, but with the Nissay Theatre, the seating had been carefully maintained, and the design was the same as it was when the theatre first opened. During this reservation, great care was paid to ensure that the seating would retain its look.
First, all the seating was removed, and transferred to the Kotobuki Seating factory. The plywood panel cores of the seats, and the FRP boards from the seat back, and the bottom of the back were all reused. New urethane foam was used for the cushioning on the back and seat, and new textiles were used for the upholstery. The armrests were carefully restored, and repainted. The legs were cleaned, and the seats were restored to the same beautifully new seats as when the theatre first opened.
In one part of the first floor, the elbow rests of the seats have been made with armrests which can be flipped up to allow visitors using wheel chairs to move more easily into the seats. This created a barrier-free space, without necessitating a change in design.
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