Large Hall,
Saiki Shiroyamasakura Hall

Utilizing a single hall for a range of events from concerts to some sports

In October 2020, Saiki Shiroyama Sakura Hall was opened in Saiki City, Oita Prefecture, Japan. It is a cultural exchange complex equipped with large and small multipurpose halls for a variety of events, as well as space for dietary education activities, childcare and child growth support, and civic collaboration.
In the large hall, facilities for multipurpose use of the space were introduced, such as a movable proscenium, sound reflectors, balconies, and retractable seating. When the hall is set up in a proscenium style with theater drapes and stage curtains, it turns into a space suitable for lectures, theatrical performances, and other similar events. On the other hand, a shoebox style that offers excellent acoustics is suitable for concerts and other musical performances. The hall transforms itself into a suitable figure according to the intended use. By stowing the audience seating and making the floor flat, it can also be used as a venue for exhibitions and some sports events.

Adopting full automatic and manual retractable seating in the right places

The first floor consists of 3 types of seating: wagon seating of 8 rows that can be lowered and stowed under the floor by the elevating system; fully automatic retractable seating that can be deployed and stowed away using a remote controller; and manual retractable seating. The decision to install removable seating was made after the city officials and a design firm conducted a survey by visiting local multipurpose halls, as well as KOTOBUKI SEATING’s showroom. The seating type they selected was THEATRE MORE PREMIUM which features the same quality and comfort as fixed theater seating and satisfies the needs of full-scale acoustics for classical concerts and similar events.
All the seating was originally designed for the Saiki Shiroyama Sakura Hall. When looking out over the entire hall from the rear of the seating area, it is very impressive to see the straight wooden louvers randomly placed on the wall and the backrest panels aligned as if corresponding to the louvers. The combination of the natural wood surface and deep pink colored upholstery adds beauty to the entire seating area.
The backrest is angled to allow easy passage through the horizontal aisle and is equipped with a three-dimensional, voluminous cushion to support the posture of the audience. Serpentine springs with excellent body pressure dispersion were employed inside the seats ensuring a comfortable seating experience even during long hours of viewing. The fixed seating on the second and third floors is unified using the same design. The backrests are slightly erected to allow the audience to see the stage more easily from higher floors.

Utilizing space through retractable seating that was made to be similar to fixed seating

A retractable seating system (also known as a telescopic seating system) is generally equipped with handrails at the left and right ends of the unit. This time, however, the whole unit was designed to reach all the way to the walls of the hall, eliminating the handrails to bring not only the seating quality but also the appearance closer to that of fixed seating.
The retractable seating has a total of 319 seats in 10 rows, but can also be set up as 145 seats in 7 rows using the middle tier specification, in which only the front section is deployed. In addition, particular blocks on the left and right of the front row are equipped with removable seating with a special mechanical unit, which enables the space to be used as wheelchair viewing areas. These combinations, together with the deployment and stowage of wagon seats lined up in front of the retractable seats, make several seating layouts possible.
Once all the seating is stowed, the first floor transforms into a flat space, which becomes easily accessible from the small hall and the art plaza located on the same floor.

Facility Overview

The culture exchange complex, Saiki Shiroyama Sakura Hall, features a segmented, sloping roof that blends in with the surrounding old townscape, temples, and shrines. Various spaces that promote citizen engagement are lined up, including large and small multipurpose halls, a childcare support facility, a community development and exchange space, and studios. The large hall is a multipurpose hall consisting of movable seats, but has excellent acoustic properties and stage mechanisms to hold full-scale concerts. It was selected as the venue for the 22nd Music Festival Argerich’s Meeting Point in Beppu in 2021.

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