Description

The response was to create a new form of outdoor environment, Suna-wase Park, an open space located at the heart of the town. The project was designed to promote two kinds of interaction: first, between people and the environment, in particular the water that had given Katayamazu its historic identity and second, between visitors and local residents of all ages.

To create the first relationship, between people and the environment, two ponds were constructed which take water from Shibayama-gata Lagoon and purify it. To create the second relationship, between visitors and residents, a carefully designed outdoor public footbath was built.

The park covers an area of 2,800 square metres and is mostly covered with grass. It is located at the intersection between the main street of the town and the secondary route that leads to the lagoon. It is possible to enter the park easily from both sides. The grassed surface allows people to sit facing the street corner.

The two interconnected ponds cover a quarter of the park. They act as a habitat, as well as a showcase, for the aquatic plants that can be found at Shibayama-gata Lagoon. The aim is to remind people about the town’s precious natural environment.

The other central element of the design is the public footbath, a facility where people can enjoy the fresh water from the hot spring at their own comfort. The footbath - comprising the waters, a deck and an open timber shed that provides shelter from sun and rain - is placed at the most public corner of the park. The shape of the shed follows the area’s traditional roofing profile.

As well as the ponds and the footbath shed, there is a small, shrine-like building, Haito-jo, meaning “the source of the hot spring”. This building was constructed in 1987 and has been retained to mark both the conceptual and physical roots of the town.