“Stage Station” / Hill of flowers

The design proposes to create a station like a theatre stage - an extension of the local townscape, integrating the station with the town as if to make the whole plaza the station.As well as fully equipping the building with functions as a station, it was also necessary for it to have a tourist information centre and local community centre.
The first floor waiting room of the new station building is designed with highly transparent material to try and prevent any visual barriers that would create a closed off atmosphere between the plaza and station. It is designed as if to provide VIP seats for the “station stage.” The station stage spreads from the train platforms, through the indoor waiting room and tourist information centre, carrying onto the shade of the large gingko tree. Along with the waiting area for trains, buses, and cars, as well as the community centre, the plaza provides space to hold events and sell local delicacies as a showcase for the local community. Each visitor becomes both the actor and audience, or the observer and observed on this station stage. The design for the community centre on the second floor is based on boat builder skills which the city is famous for. It involves a highly skilled method of using wooden boards in a spiral cylindrical form, and the project opens opportunities to train a new generation of skilled workers. This space also serves as an observation deck and is designed so that visitors may enjoy the unique scenery of the sea, mountains, and townscape all in a single view.

We hope that this new station project will become a gateway to the southern Boso area, serving as the core for the local community as well as a centre for passing down traditional skills.