Inter-University Seminar House, Modernist educational complex in Hachioji, Japan
The Inter-University Seminar House is a modernist educational complex with multiple wooden housing units arranged on concrete foundations in a fan shape across a forested site. The facility contains 19 seminar rooms and a main hall accommodating 150 people, along with parking for 40 vehicles.
Architect Takamasa Yoshizaka completed this educational facility in 1965 through collaboration among several universities in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The project emerged from the universities' need for shared seminar spaces and conference facilities.
The pyramid-shaped central building without windows creates a gathering place for academic discussions and intellectual exchange between students and faculty. Its distinctive form encourages people to come together and share ideas.
The grounds are walkable and well-connected by paths that lead through the forest surroundings, linking the various housing units and seminar spaces. Plan to spend adequate time exploring the entire site to appreciate its architectural design and layout.
The main building with its distinctive wedge shape made of concrete served as a filming location for the Japanese television series Ultraman. This unexpected use brought attention to the architecture beyond its original academic purpose.
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