Night view of the Univer Dome. It is a dome-shaped structure located in the western part of Kobe city. It is a public space used by residents, workers, students, kids and passersby.
The roof of the dome from a distance and on a bleak day.
Pillars of the dome seen from a distance.
Hi fellow hivers and fellow members of the Architecture + Design community. I hope your weekend is going great. Mine has been a little bit busy but also a bit restful. I like the mix. While resting, I enjoyed some quesadillas and a simple fruit plate. They left me feeling for more.
In this post, I’ll share with you a part of Kobe city and a little history of certain structures that exist.
Summer Universaide (World University Games) were held in the city in August 1985. The event united and re-united many nations. About 2,800 athletes from 106 countries participated. There are several monuments, buildings and structures that were created for or in memory of the events that were held around that time.
This post will highlight a few of the structures and what they look like today. The structure of focus will be the Univer Dome which is a multi-purpose space used mainly by members of a community in a western area of Kobe city. I decided to write about it because I have been to that area many times but recently learned more about the history of the structures and the interesting architecture that exist there today. Stay with me as I share more about them. Let’s together look at details of the designs.
To read more about the Kobe Universaide (1985),click the link below:
The dome is one of the monuments of the Kobe Universaide. The floor area is 1588 square meters, so is the building area. Its height is 15.8 meters. It’s a partial steel structure with reinforced concrete construction. The link below provides this information and more in Japanese.
https://www.campus-square.jp/infomation/
This is a lovely and well-utilized community space. I’ve passed by and seen concerts, flea markets, festivals, food sales and so on. I’ve seen university students and individuals practicing their dance moves there. It’s great seeing them move to the rhythms and beats of reggae, hip-hop, K-pop (Korean popular music), J-pop (Japanese popular music) and so on. I’ve stopped by and even felt my knees and hips shyly move to some of the beats. The open space creates an openness that I admire and love to see. Should I pass and stop by often enough, I might end up doing a few flips and headstands. That however, would change and could possibly spoil the history of the location. (Please insert some laughs here)
Japanese summer festival held under the dome. Participants are dressed In yukatta (similar to a kimono but for summer).
Sign with the name of the structure.
Google-translated version of the sign
The structure boasts many pillars, steps and a variety of tiles. Some of the tiles on the floor match designs in the ceiling. The inner roof or ceiling seems to be a network of metal and small details of lighting can be seen. The lighting is used to illuminate the area at night and to create different effects for events.
Along the perimeters of the dome is a shopping area, coffee shops, a bus terminal, a taxi rotary, a small park with seats and greenery (where birds sometimes play), a nearby train station, vending machines and so on. It (the dome) is conveniently located.
Shots of Pillars:
Views of some of the pillars at day and at night.
Designs of Tiles:
Design of the Ceiling/Roof:
While looking around the area, I noticed sections of the dome from which electrical equipment would be operated or controlled. I also saw a drainage area and rules governing the use of space.
This kind of infrastructure I believe, facilitates and encourages social interaction among users of the space.
This monument showcases a message from Tatsue Miyazaki, who was mayor of Kobe at the time. Though it’s a bit faded, his message still resonates today. His message can be seen more clearly below:
“Young athletes from 106 countries, east and west, north and south, gathered to take part in the largest Universaide Games in history.
Some came from war-torn countries, others from drought-stricken areas, supported by the Unitan Fund, they overcame adversity to assemble in Kobe, test their skills and deepen international exchange. It was truly an event befitting International Youth Year. With the cooperation with the citizens of Kobe, volunteers, related organizations and all participants, the Games engendered much drama and established outstanding new records.
The Kobe Universaide Games have ended but the powerful impressions left by the Games linger in our memories. The hand and footprints of the gold medalists remain preserved here for eternity”. (Words from Mayor Tatsue Miyazaki)-March 1986
Handprints and footprints of gold medalists of Kobe Universaide 1985
Google-translated version of these sections of the monument.
*This monument showcases names and signatures of athletes that participated in the Kobe Universaide(1985). It too is a bit faded but still stands.
Having learned more about the history of the structures ,it’s even more interesting to see individuals enjoying activities by the dome. It’s a lovely community space and a cheerful community.
What do you like or think about the architecture of the structures presented here?
Thank you for reading my post. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 😃
