神田知事へ ハーバード大学教授より
2010/12/08
Mr. Masaaki Kanda
Governor of Aichi Prefecture
Sannomaru 3-1-2
Naka-ku, Nagoya
Aichi-ken 460-8501
RE: Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts campus
8 December 2010
Dear Governor Kanda:
We recently became aware of plans to update the campus of Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts by demolishing several of the original buildings designed by one of Japan’s most famous architects, Junzo Yoshimura. We would like to add our voices to the growing chorus of students, scholars, architects, and preservationists in Japan and around the world asking the government of Aichi Prefecture to reconsider this rash and poorly considered plan.
From the 1950s until his death in 1997, Junzo Yoshimura was considered one of Japan’s most important architects. Over his career he designed everything from small private homes to larger corporate, institutional, and public complexes – not only in Japan but also in America, where he obtained several commissions from the Rockefeller family. What distinguishes Yoshimura’s work among other modern architecture of the age is the unmistakable elegance in artistic detail. The Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts campus is the largest project completed by his office, and its various buildings – each of them uniquely designed for its purpose – demonstrate the depth of Yoshimura’s love of the arts and his understanding of educational environment. Though buildings on the campus have suffered from years of improper maintenance and neglect from the administration, still there is no mistaking the genius of the architect in this work – the deep beauty lying just below its surface.
The international preservation organization DoCoMoMo has listed the Aichi-Geidai campus as one of Japan’s most important architectural sites of the twentieth century; it is a landmark cultural artifact worthy of robust preservation efforts for the enjoyment of future generations. To demolish architectural treasures of this caliber less than forty years after their completion, without seriously studying other preservation options (which would assuredly be more sustainable), would be a grave loss indeed.
We ask you to consider this matter urgently: the first act of demolition has already been scheduled for July 2011. The building in question – a lovingly crafted student dormitory, currently empty – is actually in fine condition and, given the proper care, could easily be repurposed as a conference center, a seminar house, department offices, or other uses. Similar efforts at other Japanese universities have usefully extended the lives of iconic buildings from this period (Nagoya University’s Toyoda Hall, for example) while setting a fine example for the long-term stewardship of a public institution’s cultural assets. We urge the government of Aichi Prefecture to look for more creative solutions for maintaining and enhancing the value of this unique and irreplaceable site.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Toshiko Mori
Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Mark Mulligan
Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
