・We will exhibit many valuable historical materials from major construction companies, which have rarely been released until now.

・We look back on the history of modern architecture, which tended to attract attention in the activities and style expressions of architects, from the perspective of manufacturing, such as materials, structures, and construction methods.

・The technical content that tends to be difficult will be explained in a friendly manner with large models, images, and exhibits to be touched.

Japan has entered a new era with the Civilization and enlightenment. With the spirit of enterprising, the masters boldly challenged new architectural techniques and styles transmitted from West against the backdrop of advanced traditional technologies. In this chapter, we will introduce the construction techniques of the first half of the Meiji era from late Tokugawa shogunate to the production and use of new building materials and bricks.

In the Meiji era, the training of architects began to create authentic Western architecture by the Japanese themselves. In addition, new materials will be produced in line with new construction, and modern construction companies that undertake large-scale construction will begin to emerge. Meiji period is decorated with historical brick architecture. We will introduce the process of solidifying the foundation of the construction industry based on beautifully colored drawings, valuable building materials, and historical materials of each company.

At the end of the Meiji era, iron technology, which completely overturns the way of building architecture, strikes the Japanese architectural world. The two major technological innovations, steel frame construction and reinforced concrete construction, which spread to destroy the brick technology acquired through the Meiji era, are added to real materials such as steel frames and reinforcement models, with abundant images and photographs. I will introduce it. At the same time, we will also introduce technologies related to steel and reinforced concrete structures, such as machinery used in construction, tiles that decorate the surface, and terracotta.

A valuable black-and-white video recording the construction of the famous architecture completed in the early Showa era, Meiji Seimeikan (1934) in Tokyo and Osaka Gas Building (1933) in Osaka will be screened with commentary at the theater corner in the venue.

We are selling catalogs at the venue. (A4 version, 112 pages, 1000 yen)

We also accept sales by mail. Click here for details.

Contents

History of Modern Architecture of Manufacturing (Terunobu Fujimori)

Chapter 1 Civilization and enlightenment of Architecture and the Age of Foreigners Employment

　　Maturing Traditional Techniques of the Edo Period

　　The birth of a pseudo-Western style architecture

　　From TOPICS ridge to contracting - the dawn of modern construction industry

　　Method of Western-style wooden construction: Clapboard and Western-style hut

　　Making bricks, stacking bricks-Challenge for new materials

Chapter 2 Fighting with Historicalism: Appearance of Architects and Contractors

　　The birth of a Japanese architect: Condor and his students

　　Evolving brick construction ─ Design and earthquake resistance

　　TOPICS Entrepreneurs and Construction Industry

　　Modernization of construction industry: organization of company and establishment of design department

　　The world developed by the Design Department of Column Construction Company (Junichiro Ishida)

Chapter 3 Iron and Concrete — Technological Innovation changes architecture

　　Symbol of modern architecture that appeared late into the age of iron architecture

　　TOPICS Impact of the Great Kanto Earthquake

　　From human power to mechanical power — rationalization and progress in construction technology

　　Introduction of Reinforced Concrete — Appearance of new structures suitable for earthquake countries

　　The trend of tiles and terracotta — exterior materials in the concrete age

　　Column tiles and terracotta (Kazumitsu Sakai) from the time of reinforced concrete construction

　　Progress in design and construction technology as seen in the Meiji Life Museum

　　Column What can be seen in Akebono of Modern Japanese Architecture (Takeshi Nakagawa)

Chronology of Modern Architecture / Reference / Video Works / Overview of Exhibition