H i s t o r y
In Osaka City, Kita ward, along the Dojima and the Tosabori River, both running gently,
there are a number of historical architecture which retains the remnants
of the Meiji and the Taisho period.
Among those beautiful buildings, the most eye-catching one is OSAKA CITY
CENTRAL PUBLIC HALL(Osaka-shi Chuo Kokaido), elegant Neo-Renaissance architecture
with red brick wall and dome-shaped bronze roof.
The graceful appearance looking even more beautiful on blue water and green
trees has always been loved by many people.
The public hall was made with a large grant from an Osaka citizen,
Mr. Einosuke Iwamoto who was a broker in Kitahama, Osaka.
His donation was 1 million yen equivalent to billions yen in current monetary value.
Einosuke had an opportunity to visit the United States as a member of businessman
group and there he was impressed by the fact that American businessmen
pay their own money to contribute to make great public halls like Carnegie
Hall. Then he decided to construct one in Osaka which should be as beautiful
as any hall in the world.
The hall construction started in 1913 and was completed in 1918. Although
it was rare at that time, they had a competition between nominated architects.
Through its long history, the hall has been always deeply involved in cultural
and art activity of Osaka people. Many international stars had various
concerts like opera and also many famous people had lectures there. The
role of the hall was changing with the times, however it always contributed
to Osaka citizens' cultural activity.
The hall renovation was started in March 1999 since the original design
had been ruined from repeated repairment and the building itself had been
aging.
After 4 years reconstruction, it completed in September 2002 and reopend
in November that year. This extensive renovation aimed at the preservation
of the building as a historical architecture and the restoration to its
original design. By the reconstruction,
the hall's endurance was improved. It got seismic isolation retrofit which
is the technology giving high seismic capacity to an old building and had
ramps and elevators answering the needs of the age and the next generation.
Also, we can see its original structure and furnishings inside the hall,
that tells us the people involved in this renovation really loved the architecture.
The beautifully renovated hall has got treasured for its magnificent appearance
and refined interior design and it was highly-esteemed as a historical
architecture,
which is essential for the scenery of Nakanoshima.
It has got designated as a cultural asset of national importance in December
2002.
It became the first public hall of a national importance in western Japan.
Despite the hall has such cultural value, it has been always loved by people
and used for citizens' cultural and art activity.
The building which has been supported by so many people will continue to
attract people and be inherited as the symbol of Osaka. |
|
