Reproduction of one of a kind original copy of design application for Peace Memorial Park by the late Architect Shigeo Sato displayed in Hiroshima
Oct. 24, 2023
by Yu Kawakami, Staff Writer
In 1949 four years after the Atomic Bombing, the City of Hiroshima staged a competition for the design of Peace Memorial Park (Naka Ward). The original copy submitted to the competition by the late Shigeo Sato, the architect who later directed the preservation of the Atomic Bomb Dome, has been found. Out of a total of 145 entries, this is the only original whose existence can be confirmed at this time. The Hiroshima Municipal Archive (Otemachi, Naka Ward) began displaying a reproduction of the original copy in the building on October 23.
Mr. Sato’s original copy consists of three items: a bird's-eye view with coloring, a layout of the facilities, and a blueprint of the new “Peace Memorial Hall.” All were hand drawn on a sheet of paper measuring approximately 80 centimeters in length and 109 centimeters in width. Mr. Sato’s plan was to locate Memorial Hall, which could be used for international conferences and other events across the Motoyasu River leaving the Atomic Bomb Dome on the opposite side. He proposed to build a new bridge upstream from the Moyasu Bridge so people could come and go in a straight line.
Nobuhisa Furukawa, a former professor at Hosei University (architecture) who has been researching Mr. Sato’s life, found the original copy at his bereaved family's home in September. According to Hiroshima City, the whereabouts of the original copies of all the other entries to the competition, including the one submitted by the group of the late architect Kenzo Tange, which was selected, have been unknown.
Mr. Sato, who was a professor at Hiroshima University after the war, played a central role in the preservation of the Atomic Bomb Dome beginning in 1967. The Hiroshima Municipal Archive said, "The work conveys Mr. Sato's strong feelings. We hope many people will come to see this first-class historical document,” The reproduction of the original copy of the application is to be displayed at the Hiroshima Municipal Archive until February 2, 2024. Attendance is free of charge.
(Originally published on October 24, 2023)
In 1949 four years after the Atomic Bombing, the City of Hiroshima staged a competition for the design of Peace Memorial Park (Naka Ward). The original copy submitted to the competition by the late Shigeo Sato, the architect who later directed the preservation of the Atomic Bomb Dome, has been found. Out of a total of 145 entries, this is the only original whose existence can be confirmed at this time. The Hiroshima Municipal Archive (Otemachi, Naka Ward) began displaying a reproduction of the original copy in the building on October 23.
Mr. Sato’s original copy consists of three items: a bird's-eye view with coloring, a layout of the facilities, and a blueprint of the new “Peace Memorial Hall.” All were hand drawn on a sheet of paper measuring approximately 80 centimeters in length and 109 centimeters in width. Mr. Sato’s plan was to locate Memorial Hall, which could be used for international conferences and other events across the Motoyasu River leaving the Atomic Bomb Dome on the opposite side. He proposed to build a new bridge upstream from the Moyasu Bridge so people could come and go in a straight line.
Nobuhisa Furukawa, a former professor at Hosei University (architecture) who has been researching Mr. Sato’s life, found the original copy at his bereaved family's home in September. According to Hiroshima City, the whereabouts of the original copies of all the other entries to the competition, including the one submitted by the group of the late architect Kenzo Tange, which was selected, have been unknown.
Mr. Sato, who was a professor at Hiroshima University after the war, played a central role in the preservation of the Atomic Bomb Dome beginning in 1967. The Hiroshima Municipal Archive said, "The work conveys Mr. Sato's strong feelings. We hope many people will come to see this first-class historical document,” The reproduction of the original copy of the application is to be displayed at the Hiroshima Municipal Archive until February 2, 2024. Attendance is free of charge.
(Originally published on October 24, 2023)
