Date and time Saturday, November 28 13:00 to 16:00

Visit to James' House, Former Goto House, Former Guggenheim House

　On November 28 (Saturday), a tour entitled "Tour around modern architecture of Kobe Shioya" was held. Shioya is located along the sea in the western part of Kobe City, and is an area known to those who know it as a town with many Western-style buildings. The day was pleasant and sunny, and it was a great day for the tour.

　Mr. Akira Matsukuma of Takenaka Corporation. He has been a resident of Shioya since 1990 and has been involved in the preservation and utilization of James' House to visit this time (the photo shows a glass-filled chapel built in the corner of the garden of James House).

　The first visit I visited was James' House, completed in 1934. It became Designated Cultural Property in Kobe City in 2012 and is now used as a restaurant and wedding hall. During the wedding ceremony in a separate building on the day, I toured so that I would not bother you.

The floor of the bar in the basement has a wonderful design with colorful tiles. And the beams are hanging.

　It's a long way to the former Guggenheim's house, which is a residential area developed by James, and then down to the shopping street. It was a hard journey of less than 30 minutes, including commentary on the town of Shioya and a detour.

　At the former Guggenheim residence, Ari Morimoto, who owns and manages the residence, explained the building. Until now, it was said to be a building of 1909, but according to materials recently received from a relative of Guggenheim, it may be 1911.

　After the explanation outside, we took a break while drinking coffee and tea inside, toured the building, and gave a mini-lecture of Mr. Matsukuma and Mr. Morimoto in the hall on the first floor. The former Guggenheim House, which is used naturally as a venue for music events and parties, is in contrast to James' House, which is a model for repairing and utilizing so-called "cultural properties."

　The last is the former Goto residence. Located on a hill just next to the former Guggenheim House, the triangular roof building with impressive red accents is often seen from trains. That's why the view from the second floor was great. In addition, you will not notice that there is a Japanese-style building in the back and there is a large tatami room just from the outside. It is managed by Kobe City, but we want you to open a way of utilization well.

　This tour went around three typical Western-style buildings in Shioya. The fact that these buildings are carefully preserved is a great attraction of the town of Shioya. What I introduced at the exhibition was the technology for building building, but it was a tour where I could teach the importance of repairing and using it.

　In addition, as an event related to the Modern Architecture Exhibition, we are also preparing attractive tours at the Nagoya and Tokyo venues. In each case, the number of people who can participate is limited, but if you wish, please apply.