The 4th Sunflower Village Master Plan Committee Meeting with townspeople and Kengo Kuma

Monday, January 20, 2020

The 4th Sunflower Village Master Plan Formulation Committee meeting was held in the large hall of the community center on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. A lively discussion took place among the committee members, including Kengo Kuma, and the audience.

Scenes from the meeting

General MC: Hiroyuki Yoshida, Chief of the Commerce, Tourism and Forestry Division, Industry Department, Hokuryu Town Office

"We want to increase awareness of Hokuryu Town, encourage people to visit Hokuryu Town all year round, and further expand sales. To achieve this, we would like to consider how to develop Hokuryu Town as a whole, including Himawari no Sato.

With the future of Hokuryu Town in mind, we would like to create an attractive town that will excite everyone, both those who live here and those who come from outside, so we appreciate your support," said Yoshida.

Chair: Professor Terutaka Suzuki, Rissho University

Architect Kengo Kuma: On the direction of Himawari no Sato

"Himawari no Sato has many wonderful elements. Overall, we are thinking about connecting these elements. Depending on how they are connected, a synergistic effect will be created. Our aim is to make it many times more attractive and appealing without spending too much money, so that many people will be attracted to it.

1. New observation deck "Big Tree Observation Deck": The symbol tree of the sunflower field

As a symbol tree of the sunflower field, we came up with a design that would make the observation deck higher and more attractive, and create a new monument.

The observation deck is barrier-free and has an elevator. It is 9m high and can also be reached by stairs. The top terrace is 6m x 7m in size, and is designed to allow for ample viewing even during peak season. The elevator is see-through, allowing visitors to enjoy the ever-changing views of Sunflower Village as they go up.

The main structure is steel, but we wanted to make good use of wood to create a natural design that blends in with the surroundings. The view changes depending on the terrace at different heights, and we designed a covered viewing space with a 360-degree view.

Floor plan and elevation plan

・Spacious viewing space
・Barrier-free with elevator installed
・We considered changing the height and creating a roofed viewing space with a 360-degree view. The rooftop is open.

Large tree observation deck - reference image

1. COEDA HOUSE, a cafe in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture

The idea is to randomly combine 8cm square cypress rods to create a building that resembles a giant tree.

2. Munich Meditation Facility "WOOD PILE" in Germany

This meditation building is located in the forest near Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle, and is constructed with glass walls that allow you to see the trees.

2. New Tourist Center

As a new tourist center, we are considering a facility that will offer bicycle rentals and maze reception.

The design incorporates the idea of a picture frame. We constructed an L-shaped building, and designed it so that the Sunflower Village would be visible symbolically from the space in the center of the building. The Sunflower Village is framed like a painting, making it look effective.

A U-shaped layout intersecting with sunflower fields: A charming place where you can have a special experience in Hokuryu Town

As you enter from the parking lot, you will be drawn towards the "Sunflower Gate" and the sunflower village will come into view. The "Sunflower Gate" has a frame effect, making the sunflower field look like a framed picture, making it even more beautiful to view.

If you head to the right, you will find an observation deck, and if you go further, it will lead to Nonno Forest.

The large dining area in front of the retail area will be the same as the current tourist center. However, the area with the sunflower fields in front of it will be different from the previous one. Visitors will be able to enjoy a chat while gazing at the sunflower fields and eating and drinking (Drawing: Green: Retail area, Yellow: Dining area, Pink: Plaza area).

Hokuryu Town alone is an attractive place where you can experience something special about Hokuryu Town.

Sunflower Veranda

There is only a roof, and the outdoor space has a deck underneath. Tables can be placed outside to create a corner where you can eat and drink.

3. New Tourist Information Center

The current tourist center will be renovated into a facility specializing in sports and tourist information. The design will allow the current function as a winter sports center to continue, while also incorporating tourist information functions.

The corner facing the parking lot will be renovated into a tourist information center and donation reception desk, and the exterior wall in that area will be made of glass, making it a highly visible tourist hub.

The central arena will be a sports facility that can be used all year round. Sports will be possible even during the summer sunflower season. The current building leaks, so it will need to be renovated to include waterproofing.

Nonno Forest, a place of relaxation

We will improve the road that connects to the observation deck, install street furniture for relaxing in the forest, and widen the lawn to the south, creating attractions other than just sunflowers.

We will be developing Nonno Forest. We will be building a walking path to connect it to the sunflower field. We are considering removing the current concrete walkway, expanding the sunflower field, laying grass in Nonno Forest, and designing it so that the grass will provide a landscaped view of the sunflower field.

We will consider various ways to use (multi-use) the lawn area on the south side.

Street Furniture

We will be installing outdoor furniture and lawns as street furniture. As an example of street furniture, we will introduce the French pavilion "KOMOREBI (Château La Coste, France)". This organic, tree-like pavilion is located on a hill overlooking Mont Sainte-Victoire in southern France, a place beloved by Cézanne.

The Italian pavilion, "CODAMA (Italy Arte Sera)," is a 4m-tall spherical pavilion made from 58mm-thick solid larch wood in the Arte Sera forest, a mecca for environmental art in Italy, without the use of metal fittings or glue. I think that if such an iconic pavilion is installed, people will gather and enjoy it.

5. Trailer House

The cafe will be moved to coincide with the sunflower blooming season to increase accessibility. By connecting the whole area, we have come up with a design that will double the value of the roundscape.

A mobile store that harmonizes in design with the observation deck and tourist center. We are thinking of setting up a trailer house on the hillside with a tent, providing shade on hot days and a place to rest when it rains.

exchange of opinions

This was followed by a discussion with the townspeople from various perspectives.

・Direct sunlight on the store side
- Regarding eaves, glass, etc.
・About the observation deck elevator
・Facilities that can be used all year round
・New tourism resources
・About the observation deck, which will be the symbol of the wooden structure
-About the "Sunflower Gate" with a picture frame effect
・Installation of toilets
・About the Dream Sunflower Village Project
・I was impressed by the exciting plan
- Regarding the store's back yard and delivery aisles

Kengo Kuma's closing remarks

"These are merely ideas, and we will proceed after finalizing various issues such as budget. We would like to aim for something that is best suited to Hokuriku Town," said Kengo Kuma in his closing remarks, before leaving the venue due to flight schedule constraints.

Masayuki Tanigaki, Chairman of Marche Co., Ltd.

A story about the "Rice Ball Contest"

"Hokuryu Town's landscape is wonderful, but I also think that Hokuryu Town's sunflower rice has great value. We thought long and hard about how we could process the sunflower rice into something that would please the people of Hokuryu Town. On August 25th, we held an "Omusubi Contest" at Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen.

The winning entry in the rice ball contest was test-sold at 20 stores in the Kansai region over a two-month period starting in September. A total of 2,000 servings of the two products, "Cheese Bacon Rice Ball" and "Okonomiyaki-style Grilled Rice Ball," were sold. The staff were surprised by the overwhelming response.

Many customers have commented that this rice ball is delicious and they love it, proving that it will definitely sell. From now on, it is my sincere hope that this rice ball recipe will spread rapidly throughout the Kita Sorachi (Sorachi) region, with a focus on Hokuryu Town.

Student Support Squad

I am a lecturer in the Department of Business Management at Osaka Prefecture University, and the final exam for my class was a topic titled "Business Ideas for Sunflower Rice and Tourism in Hokuryu Town."

I think it would be interesting if some of the 80 students enrolled there could be organized as a student support group, volunteering in Hokuryu Town or coming up with ideas for green tourism agricultural experience tours.

Artistic representation of sunflowers

I discovered "Withered Sunflowers" as an artwork at the Osaka National Museum of Art. I used to think that sunflowers were only valuable when they were in bloom, but when I saw "Withered Sunflowers," I felt a sense of "life and death" and realized that this is also a part of life. Since withered sunflowers also contain messages, I realize that sunflowers can be expressed in an artistic form.

Naoya Ishikawa, Tokyo Office Manager, JAZY Tax Accounting Office

A new business model in Hokuryu Town

We proposed a company that would allow local residents, tourists, and elementary and junior high school students to experience a variety of things, including agriculture and workshops.

As part of a year-round strategy for the tourist center, we will hold regular markets and target the visitors by introducing various experience plans (agricultural experience, sunflower experience, soba noodle making experience, workshops, etc.) to increase the number of visitors.

・Agricultural experience examples, Hokkaido Farm Stay Symposium materials
・Examples of business plans

Mr. Yuji Sasaki, Planning Division, Planning and Coordination Department, Architectural Research Headquarters, Hokkaido Research Organization, a local independent administrative institution

Sunflower Festival Survey Results

A survey was conducted targeting visitors to the Sunflower Festival, and approximately 1,500 questionnaires were analyzed.

・Many are families with children and young people, with 40% being repeat customers
・Most visitors come by car from Sapporo, and the average stay is 1.7 hours.
・Many people learned about the Sunflower Festival through word of mouth and came to the event.
・High evaluation and satisfaction with meals and souvenirs
・Intention to participate in the next Sunflower Festival and evaluation of the Sunflower Festival are generally high

As a challenge

・During the two-hour stay, approximately 41% of people ate. The average rating of the food was 4.6 points.
・14% of people purchased souvenirs, with an average satisfaction rating of 4.6 points. When asked what souvenirs would be good for them, many people chose sunflower-related foods.
・Hokuryu Town's image is strongly associated with sunflowers, and weakly with rice. It will be necessary to promote rice produced in Hokuryu Town in the future. I think it will be necessary to come up with some creative ideas, such as selling it in 2-cup packages that make it easy to take home as a souvenir.

As a "city development perspective" that needs to be considered in the future

・Creating new value for Hokuryu Town by attracting immigrants and entrepreneurs
・We are looking for people who share our values and support Hokuryu Town's town development.
-We need a new perspective on urban development that other cities and towns are not doing.

Comments from designer Makoto Umehara

"Regarding the proposal for the Sunflower Sable, rather than using the shape of a sunflower as is, something that casually incorporates the symbolism of the sunflower into the design will have a greater impact.

Even if a single Himawari Sable costs 200 yen, it makes a great souvenir. It's a form of propaganda to promote Hokuryu Town while receiving money. When people take them home as souvenirs, all their family and friends will know about Hokuryu Town. The packaging has the Hokuryu Town mark on it, which helps spread the word.

About 20 years ago, a turban curry was released in Ama Town, a remote island in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture, with turban shells as the main ingredient, as they are commonly caught in Ama. I designed the package with the title "Turban Shell Curry - Common Sense on the Island."

On this island, there are things that are common sense, but that can only be done in a small town. The words "Naimono wa Nai (There is nothing we don't have)" were created as the island's logo. This year (2019), Ama Town was recognized for these words on the 50th anniversary of its establishment as a town.

The opinions expressed at this committee meeting ranged from discussing working as a complete team to coming up with product ideas. In other words, doing something with intention will be accepted by society.

I hope that in the future, Himawari Sable will be born in Hokuryu Town," says Umehara.

Closing remarks by Terutaka Suzuki

"In the future, 'bright farming' may make the world a brighter, richer, and happier place. I believe that how the will and aspirations of the people of Hokuryu are expressed will determine the future development of Hokuryu.

It is important for us to move forward in a positive manner. Today, we have taken into consideration and summarized the opinions of many of the people involved, including Kengo Kuma, and we would like to continue to support you in the future. Thank you very much," said Suzuki.

The 5th Sunflower Village Basic Plan Development Committee is scheduled to be held at the end of February 2020.

It is with boundless love, gratitude, and prayers that we send our endless love and gratitude to this fascinating and dreamy sunflower village project, which will excite the hearts of both Hokuryu townspeople and tourists alike.

Other photos

・Photos (109 photos) here >>

Hokuryu Town Portal and Related Articles

・4th Sunflower Village Master Plan Committee Meeting: Aiming for an exciting and attractive Hokuryu town(January 20, 2020)
・Sunflower Rice Rice Ball Contest 2019 Results Announcement, Award Ceremony, and Social Party(August 30, 2019)
・2nd Himawari no Sato Basic Plan Formulation Committee - Overall Concept of the New Himawari no Sato(August 23, 2019)
・First Sunflower Village Master Plan Committee Meeting: Sunflower Village in the Reiwa Era - Discussion begins(April 29, 2019)

・Construction approval for Hokuryu Town Yawara Nursery School, designed by Kengo Kuma, is underway and the school is scheduled to open in April 2020.(December 27, 2019)
・Mr. Masahiro Kawada, Chief Engineer, talks about the introduction of a geothermal heat pump system at a new nursery school in Hokuryu Town(September 24, 2019)
・Kengo Kuma and Terutaka Suzuki hold a lecture on urban development in Hokuryu Town, "From the New National Stadium to Hokuryu Town"(October 31, 2019)
・(Notice) October 22nd (Tue) Hokuryu Town Urban Development Lecture "From the New National Stadium to Hokuryu Town"(October 7, 2019)
・Construction of a new nursery school designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates is underway(July 24, 2019)

・Lecture by Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Ambassador, Terutaka Suzuki, on "Agriculture, Tourism, Design, and Urban Development"(February 25, 2019)
・Day 1 (1) Visit to the project to revitalize Hokuryu Town through design(August 13, 2018)
・Day 1 (2) Hokuryu Town Urban Development Discussion Meeting: Project to Revitalize Hokuryu Town through Design(August 13, 2018)
・Day 2: Inspection and Hokuryu Town Urban Development Discussion Meeting; Project to Revitalize Hokuryu Town through Design(August 13, 2018)

・Kengo Kuma currently designing Hokuryu Nursery School. Exhibition "Kuma's Things - Kengo Kuma and Whispering Materials, Talking Materials" @ Tokyo Station Gallery (Tokyo Station)(April 5, 2018)
・Hokuryu Town logo and hometown tax rice bag for "Bright Farming Methods: Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido's Sunflower Town" designed by Makoto Umehara. Presentation by town residents.(March 28, 2018)

Kengo Kuma's reference site

・Kengo Kuma and Associates website

・〈Takagi Gakuen Kindergarten Founding Building (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture)〉Planning and design of kindergarten buildings
・<Yusuhara Town Website> Yusuhara Town x Kengo Kuma Architecture
・＜Hearst Fujingahosha＞ Interview with architect Kengo Kuma: "Playing with building blocks is my starting point"
・<Nippon.com Public Interest Foundation> The message behind the New National Stadium: Architect Kengo Kuma
・<Fashion Press> Kengo Kuma's New National Stadium "Stadium of Forest"

Arai Construction Co., Ltd. Blog

・The president conducted a site patrol for the "Yawara Nursery School Construction Project"(October 15, 2019)

◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi