Togo-Kinenkan

東郷の杜 東郷記念館

Rehabilitation of the connection between architecture and garden

Located in the urban area near Harajuku Station, Togo Shrine is embedded within a forest of trees that are hundreds of years old. The shrine complex is a collection of 12 buildings across the 8800m² site. This project focuses on the renovation of The Memorial Hall, a gathering place for ceremonies, parties, and events. At the beginning we considered the possibility of a new building, but since rebuilding would be subject to new size restrictions, we moved forward with a revitalization plan that would carefully incorporate seismic reinforcement, site specific additions, and interior renovations. When working on the renovation of an old structure like this, it is important to significantly improve earthquake resistance through weight reduction. Our first design action was to demolish the heavy concrete slabs on the roof and terrace and install a new large steel frame. This then enabled us to incorporate a new element of ‘roof’ into the design, creating a new formal continuity with the Main Shrine above. Next, we reworked the circulation and zoning of each floor, and replaced all vertical flow lines with a new circulation system. These changes helped to completely reorient the building, and now each reception space has been opened toward the pond, regenerating the connection between the Shrine’s forest and the experience of the building itself.