Santo | UID Architects

Architectural project that resembles the products manufactured by the client that encourages public participation in an industrial area

Innovative efforts during the coronavirus pandemic

An ironworks factory, SANGYO Corporation, was established in 1951 in Kaji-cho, which translates to “blacksmith town”. Kaji-cho is in Tomonoura, Fukuyama city in Hiroshima prefecture. In 1965, Sangyo moved to the Ironworks area in Tomonoura that was newly established on reclaimed ground. Currently, Sangyo manufactures fittings by combining manufacturing techniques using machine tools and robots, as well as traditional free forging. The free forging technique has been used to make “Tomo Ikari” (translates to anchors in Tomonoura) and has been designated as a tangible local cultural asset. This project is part of a larger government funded strategy. As part of that strategy, this specific project aims to support Sangyo to transition from traditional anchor-making to furniture-making. In addition, Sangyo will have a marketing plan to sell their products, and has opened up to the public to experience the manufacturing process. This restructuring of the company is taking place in the wider context of economic instability caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

An open factory that invites the public to participate in manufacturing and a shop that sells Sangyo’s unique products

The client’s vision was to combine a shop, an office, a lounge space for customers, and an adjacent factory where customers can have a hands-on experience. The client asked us to create an outdoor space that is roughly half the size of the entire property, where visitors can use their handcrafted cookware on a fireplace and an outdoor kitchen. The client endeavors to create an open factory where they can conserve and promote their traditional manufacturing techniques.

An outdoor space that aims to host a variety of activities

We can reimagine the “factory” as an outdoor space since the entryways are often kept wide open. For this project, we pay more attention to the outdoor space that can serve various purposes - which is situated between two of the client’s factories with sheet metal walls - and to the material and textures of their products such as their tables manufactured by forging techniques. Prior to construction, the premise was surrounded by three factories, except the west side that faces the main street. We decided to dismantle a section of the factory on the east side owned by the client, and added a sheet metal wall. I also designed a large 7 x 30 m roof that looks like a table, which creates an open empty outer space, over the rectangular-shaped-premise. The roof has Vierendeel frames of 80 x 40 mm, in lattice formation at 45 degrees, with 12 mm structural plywood attached to both sides of the frames. I also arranged cross-shaped columns that widen towards the floor, BH-400×64㎜ and BH-150×64㎜, in a grid layout at 4,500 mm intervals with 6 spans. I arranged it so that the simple beauty of the “Tomo Ikari” shape stands out. Moreover, by utilizing the walls of the adjacent factories I aimed to create a spontaneous yet ordered space, where their products can be displayed.

I look forward to seeing how this industrial area, which is currently unattractive to the general public, is opened up to the surrounding community by developing businesses and cooperating with various tourist resources in Tomonoura. It is my hope that they will continue to pass on their traditional techniques as an industrial heritage down to successive generations.

＜日本語＞
プロダクトのような建築で工業団地をまちへ開く

コロナ禍における新たな取り組み
1951年に広島県福山市鞆(とも)の浦の鍛冶町で創業した鉄工所「三(さん)暁(ぎょう)」．船具・漁具金物の製造を生業とし，1965年頃には埋立造成からなる鞆鉄鋼団地に移転．現在は工作機械やロボットを用いた製造技術と，有形民族文化財に認定された「鞆いかり」の伝統鍛造を融合してものづくりを行っている．昨今のコロナ禍による発注中止など回復が見えない中，この技術力を活かした家具プロダクト製造・販売・体験によって新たな業種転換を図る事業再構築補助事業のプロジェクトである．

鍛造体験を中心としたオープンファクトリーとオリジナルプロダクトのショップ
クライアントからの要望は，今まで手掛けてきたプロダクトのショップとオフィス機能，鍛造体験参加者のラウンジスペースと隣接する体験工場との連携．そして敷地のおよそ半分を占める半屋外スペースでは，制作したフライパンを試用できる暖炉やキッチンスペースを設け，プロダクトをつくり・使うところまでを体験できる空間．また積極的なオープンファクトリーによって伝統的なものづくりの技術発信の拠点をつくることであった．

さまざまなアクティビティを包含するがらんどうの外部空間
工場とは面白いもので日常大きなシャッターを開けたままの，言ってみれば外部といえるがらんどうの空間である．今回，工場特有のスレートで覆われたさまざまな機能を包含するその外部空間と，鍛造技術で制作したテーブルなどに見られるプロダクトの構成や素材感に着目した．敷地は西側の幹線道路面以外の3方を工場に囲まれており，計画にあたり敷地東側の境界線を跨いで共有している工場を一部解体し切断面の補強を行った。そして東西に接道した短冊状の敷地にがらんどうの外部空間をつくりだす7×30ｍの大きなテーブルのような屋根を考えた．この大屋根は幹線道路に対して45度振った□80×40mmの部材で構成されるフィーレンディールトラスに構造用合板12㎜を両面貼りとし，柱は鞆いかりの形態が持つ機能美から柱脚BH-400×64㎜・柱頭BH-150×64㎜からなる末広がりの十字柱とし＠4,500㎜の6スパンで支えている。また外壁は隣接する工場のスレートを壁と見立て，プロダクトが至る所に展示できる大らかでありながら秩序を持たせた空間とした．
今後、鞆の浦の観光資源とネットワーク化を図りながら事業展開をすることで鉄鋼団地という近寄り難い存在であったエリアを積極的に街に開き，伝統技術を産業遺産としてミライへ繋いでいくことを期待している．