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May 21, 2015
Art & Architect Festa | "Shiga 2011 Architecture Student Workshop" Held
An architectural space where art, nature, and history converge on Chikubu Island.
Art & Architect Festa | "Architecture Students Workshop Shiga 2011" Held
A public presentation for the "Architecture Students Workshop Shiga 2011," where students studying architecture and related fields propose and aim to realize ideas for making Lake Biwa's natural environment sustainable, will be held on Sunday, September 11th. The event will take place on Chikubu Island, floating in Lake Biwa in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, and aboard the Bianka, the largest passenger ship on Lake Biwa.
Text by Tomomi YanakaPhotos by Satoshi Hanada (Nakasa & Partners)
Public Presentation Open to the General Public
The "Architecture Students Workshop Shiga 2011" is an off-campus experiential workshop organized by the NPO Art and Architect Festa (AAF), established by currently active architects, including Takayoshi Hiranuma, with the aim of "developing art and the social environment through architecture." Last year, it was also held at the Heijo Palace Ruins in Nara.
The location for this second iteration is Chikubu Island, situated in the northern part of Lake Biwa and long known as "the island where gods dwell."
It is known for its unique topography, rising from approximately 100 meters below the lakebed to a maximum elevation of about 200 meters. It holds significant historical importance as a sacred site and is a popular tourist destination visited by many. In recent years, the cormorant colony has grown dramatically, becoming one of Japan's largest nesting grounds. The resulting guano has caused significant tree die-off, presenting a major issue.
Approximately 50 participating students, studying architecture, environmental design, and related fields, are divided into eight groups. Under the theme of "Making Lake Biwa's Natural Environment Sustainable," they have been working on their projects since around July, and full-scale models will be produced during a workshop in early September.
At the public presentation on Sunday, September 11th, which will also invite the general public, participants will travel by Lake Biwa cruise ship departing from Nagahama Port to visit Chikubu Island and inspect the works. On the ship heading to Otsu Port, eight judges, including active architects, architectural critics, and structural engineers, will evaluate and comment on the projects.
Students from diverse universities, majors, and age groups, inspired by the environment of historically significant Chikubu Island, will realize architectural spaces born from rich imagination. This promises to be an opportunity to witness firsthand the moment when new talent converges with nature and history.
"Architecture Students Workshop Shiga 2011" Public Presentation
www.aaf.khaa.jp/workshop/
Date: Sunday, September 11th
Meeting Point: Nagahama Port
1-1 Minatocho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture
Meeting Time: 9:30 AM
Capacity: 300 people (on-site registration, first-come, first-served)
Participation Fee: Free
NPO Art and Architect Festa
Tel. 075-200-3106
aaf@khaa.jp