Hall,
Konan Public Hall

A public hall suggestive of a sunflower field

This new public hall was opened in Konan-ku, Yokohama City, in May 2021.
The former Integrated Government Building also serving as a public hall was relocated to a new location and the Konan Public Hall was built on its site. Conveniently located just a minute's walk from Konan-Chuo Station, it is widely used as a base facility for lectures, music recitals, and other artistic activities by ward residents.

The audience seats in the hall are fashioned in the motif of Konan-ku's flower, the "Sunflower". The facility was designed to be a bright and fun public hall that would please the ward residents, especially children.
It is a colorful space with sunflower designs not only on the seats, but also on the walls and ceiling reliefs and the curtains.

Colorful seats inspired by sunflowers

Kotobuki Seating installed seats in the 525-seat hall. The eye-catching and uniquely designed seats are custom-made for Konan Public Hall.
The shape of the back and seat is a nice blend of round shapes imitating sunflowers and shapes imitating stems and leaves. All wooden parts are painted green to represent the stems and leaves.
The seat is made of corrugated springs and molded urethane, designed to minimize the strain on your body. The seat is gentle on your body even during long duration activities such as lectures, without causing any fatigue.
The seat upholstery is an original design by Fabriko Co., Ltd. The back and seat are upholstered in different shades of yellow and green to represent the "Sunflower" - it symbolizes the exuberant Konan Ward thriving freely under the shining sun.
The yellow upholstery on the back is inspired by the stamens of a sunflower whose color changes over time. A small granular pattern is embossed on the fabric to add a three-dimensional effect, creating a sense of depth and color.
The green upholstery of the seat was designed to resemble the vibrant leaves of a sunflower. The gorgeous upholstery brightens the seating area, making you feel like you are in a sunflower field.

Creating easy-to-see and easy-to-use seating

The seating has been meticulously designed to ensure everyone's comfort. The center block has a staggered layout - seats in the consecutive rows are set a half-seat distance apart. In addition, the seating is arranged in two tiers with a steep slope to secure a good line of sight. Through these innovations, we have created a place where you can enjoy the event without the head of the person in front blocking your view.
Aisle seats in the fixed seating area are fitted with a stability bar. The designer's attention to detail can be felt through this stability bar's design. Inspired by the shift lever of a car, the handhold is designed to be easy to grasp. The shape fits your hand for easy gripping and steadies you while climbing up/down the stairs.
Three rows of mobile seats are located in the front of the auditorium. With one-touch casters, these seats can be easily moved to make space for wheelchair users when needed.
Parent and child seating is also available at the back of the hall. It is a private space with partitions allowing visitors with small children to enjoy events without any concerns.

The Konan Public Hall is a newly created space where the residents can relax and enjoy various activities. It takes over from the public hall located in the former Integrated Government Building.
After the opening, elementary and middle school students from within and outside the ward performed here to kick off the event. Henceforth also, the hall will continue to support various activities while being cherished by the residents of the ward.

Facility overview

Konan Public Hall is a base facility that supports community activities and cultural and artistic activities of residents. It is fully equipped with stage mechanisms and lighting equipment, and is mainly used for music recitals, ceremonies, and lectures.
The sunflower-patterned reliefs on the walls and ceiling are not only gorgeous to look at, but are also designed to improve acoustics.
In addition to the hall, the facility has a civil engineering office, residents' activity support center, conference rooms, gallery space, and more.