Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest: Passing the Torch
A cultural facility built with donations from citizens who backed Ando’s idea to create a place where children can experience the joy of discovering and reading books.
1 – Giving Back to Osaka
The island of Nakanoshima is the historic and symbolic center of Osaka, the “city of water”. It is now home to a popular urban park, the city hall, a public hall, a library, and museums. Ando was elated when he learned that he would be able to build here.
This was not just because of Nakanoshima’s central location; the site held special meaning for Ando.
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What made it special was the Osaka City Central Public Hall. It was built with a donation by Meiji-era stock trader Einosuke Iwamoto and is seen as a symbol of civic engagement for Osaka, or the “people’s city”, whose development can be attributed to its dedicated citizens.
When plans arose to redevelop the Nakanoshima area in the 1980s, Ando, without being asked, proposed his own project to turn the entire island into a park.
Nakanoshima Project Ⅱ［Space Strata］ (1988) by Tadao AndoOriginal Source: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
Nakanoshima Project Ⅱ［Space Strata］, Tadao Ando, 1988
He has also been running a cherry blossom tree-planting campaign along the riverbanks since 2004.
Wishing to carry on Iwamoto’s noble public spirit, Ando became the banner bearer for the project to create a place dedicated to children, the generation of the future.
This project was Ando’s way of giving back to his birthplace and longtime home of Osaka.
2 – The Creation of a New Riverfront Space
Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest (2020) by Tadao AndoOriginal Source: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
The Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest unfolds in a gentle curve along the Dojima River, which flows on the north side of Nakanoshima. The building can be accessed directly from the riverside promenade, and its entrance porch leads to a terrace overlooking the water.
The fronting road was turned into a pedestrian-only space in time for the building’s opening. The airy entrance porch welcomes visitors like a gate to the Dojima River with its 5-meter-high canopy that resonates with the urban scale of the surroundings.
A green apple sculpture titled “Youth” sits on the terrace. Ando, who continues to work vigorously even at 80, designed it with the message that you can be forever youthful as long as you carry hope in your heart.
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3 – Designing Encounters with Books
Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest (2020) by Tadao AndoOriginal Source: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
The main double-height library space unfolds dynamically across a long, broad staircase that takes advantage of the site’s shape. The large bookshelves wrapping around the curved walls pique the curiosity of children and create the feeling of wandering in a forest of books.
Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest (2020) by Tadao AndoOriginal Source: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
Many of the books lining the shelves were donated by individuals in answer to Ando's call. The assorted books are arranged based on 12 themes devised to appeal to children’s interests. The slits opened within the shelves offer glimpses of the Dojima River landscape.
The three-story book-filled atrium at the east end of the building. The labyrinthine space of stairs and bridges is sure to stimulate the curiosity of children as they explore the forest of books.
Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest (2020) by Tadao AndoOriginal Source: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
A section showing the relationship between the road and river. The narrowness of the site is not felt inside because the spaces have been cleverly designed to unfold vertically.
The entrance was put on the second floor slightly above the road to secure a view to the river.
The semi-underground space on the road side of the building is a cylindrical reading room. This is a good demonstration of Ando’s skillful ability to make use of narrow sites.
The inside of the cylindrical reading room. It contains books that deal with the themes of life and death. The natural light shining in from the skylight above creates a calming space where children can focus on the books.
A variety of niches have been provided so that the children can find their own place to read.
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A low-ceilinged, cave-like reading space lies beneath the main staircase.
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The quiet, calming reading space on the first floor.
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A well-lit reading table beside a window overlooking the river from the third floor.
Ando has always said that architecture is not over when construction finishes and that it is important to “nurture” buildings over time. Here, he is growing ivy on the exterior walls. In a few years, the book forest should be covered in greenery.
Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest (2020) by Tadao AndoOriginal Source: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
Reading books is also a "journey of the mind" that expands our world! ── Tadao Ando
Text：Shinichi Kawakatsu
Editor：Ryusuke Wada
Direction：neucitora
Supervision：Tadao Ando Architect & Associates
