Science Hall,
Complex Machiyama, in Sanjo City

A new hub for sustainable town development, focused on science education

Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, is a "monozukuri" (craftsmanship) city with a long tradition as a metalworking industrial center, particularly for blacksmithing. In recent years, the city has actively promoted science education to boost children's curiosity and spirit of inquiry, aiming to cultivate craft skills in the next generation. This initiative has captured the interest of those considering educational migration, leading to a fivefold increase in movers from outside the city over the five years starting in 2019. Despite facing challenges like a shrinking and aging population, Sanjo City is gaining national attention as a local area gracefully advancing sustainable town development.
In July 2022, the city's new complex, "Machiyama," opened, establishing the Science Education Center as the foundation of its science education efforts. In the Science Hall on the first floor, the center's science instructors regularly offer free science experiment classes, or science shows, and planetarium screenings to local children, fostering their interest and curiosity in science.

Movable model retractable seating system for theater, flat floor, and diverse layouts

The Science Hall presents a bright and open impression, with glass walls overlooking the plaza. It is a versatile space that can host various events, including lectures, concerts, and movie screenings on a large, approximately 300-inch screen. The hall incorporates a retractable seating system, stacking chairs, and a movable stage. When everything is retracted, the hall transforms into a wide, flat space.
The manually operated retractable seating system consists of 100 seats split into three units. Typically, the three units are linked together to form a single audience seating area facing the stage. However, the number of seats can be adjusted according to the size of the event by retracting the seating units on the left or right. A dedicated handle is used to deploy and retract the tiers and fold/unfold the chairs. To move the units, the chairs and tiers are first retracted, and then a lifter cart is used to raise the main body of the unit off the floor.

Comfort and functionality combined, with facility-specific typography

The installed chair is the CS01, which features a slim form and offers soft seating comfort with polyurethane cushioning. It is upholstered in a highly durable 3D mesh made with a three-dimensional knitting method, making it highly breathable and comfortable for long periods of sitting. When unoccupied, the back and seat fit tightly together and stand vertically, allowing for smooth passage space in front of the seat. The visual unity of the facility was enhanced by using the facility's logo and signage font for the seat number plate on the seat bottom panel.

Facility overview

The Complex Machiyama in Sanjo City, designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, was built on the former site of Sanjo Elementary School, which closed in 2017. Its nickname, "Machiyama" (Town Mountain), chosen through a public contest, comes from the exterior's extensive use of wood, making it resemble a large mountain in the town. The facility's concept is "Learn, See, and Touch." It is designed as a space where vibrancy and tranquility coexist, with the library, blacksmith museum, Science Education Center, and an outdoor plaza integrated with the existing covered community space, "Stage Engawa."

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