Riku Cafe | Rikuzentakata Community Cafe Undergoing Rebuild for Permanent Location
Riku Cafe
From the temporary Riku Cafe to a new permanent building, twice the size.
Cafe's renewal opening set for October 5.
OPENERS, with the cooperation of Yuri Naruse of Naruse-Inokuma Architects,Riku Cafe, a community cafe in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecturehas been reporting on.The temporary Riku Cafe, in operation since January 2012,has been decided to be renovated on October 5 (Sunday). Due to reasons such as it becoming cramped, the site being in the path of a reconstruction road, the lack of a restroom, and insufficient kitchen facilities, it will be rebuilt as a permanent structure, with construction commencing successfully in May of this year.
Text by KAJII Makoto (OPENERS)
Second round of crowdfunding on CAMPFIRE now underway!
Riku Cafe has grown into a regional hub in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, an area severely affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Its lease expired in March of this year, forcing a relocation, but construction is currently progressing towards a permanent building.
Yuri Naruse of Naruse-Inokuma Architects commented, "As everyone knows, construction costs in disaster-stricken areas have skyrocketed, and all the funds raised for construction and cafe preparation have been exhausted on construction alone. We are short on funds for dishes and furniture, so we decided to try crowdfunding once more."
Currently, support is being sought through crowdfunding via the second round on CAMPFIRE (Project page:http://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/1177).
Naruse further shared, "Construction is proceeding smoothly so far. The building is scheduled for completion in early September, and the cafe's renewal opening is planned for October 5 (Sunday). The temporary space was about 35 square meters, but this new cafe will be approximately 70 square meters, doubling the size. We hope you will visit us once it opens."
Riku Cafe
http://rikucafe.jp
https://www.facebook.com/rikucafe