Jiyu Gakuen Girls’ School
Encyclopedia
Jiyu Gakuen Girls' School Myonichikan, the "House of Tomorrow," is the original building complex of Jiyu Gakuen, designed by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright
.
Arata Endo, working as an assistant for Wright's project constructing the Imperial Hotel
, introduced Wright to his acquaintances Yoshikazu and Motoko Hani, who founded Jiyu Gakuen. Impressed by the couple's self-reliant, Christian-oriented educational philosophy, Wright accepted to undertake the design of their new school.
Built of economical 2 x 4 wood and plaster, Jiyu Gakuen featured a central section with
double-height volume and soaring windows facing south onto an open courtyard, with
symmetrical wings on the east and west. It was built to child scale, with an architectural
richness belying its budget. Myonichikan is also given a Japanese touch by Wright's extensive use of gray-green Oya stone
(from Tochigi Prefecture
) for pavements, columns and the lanterns standing in the corridors.
The Myonichikan consists of four buildings; the main, the east, and the west buildings and
the auditorium. The main building stands with the two classroom buildings to the west and the
east forming a U-shape. The buildings have such characteristics as extending horizontal lines
to blend with the landscape, the so-called 'Prairie school
' design, which can be seen in
Wright's first golden age. The auditorium, designed by Arata Endo and capable of seating
around 300 people, stands across the street to the south of the site.
After the main campus was relocated to Minamisawa (Higashikurume, Tokyo
) in 1934, the original buildings were used by school alumni for various activities. A lengthy battle to save the aging structure was fought with the Japanese government in the 1990s. The government rewrote its regulations so that the building could be used for educational and cultural activities after being designated an National Important Cultural Asset
in May 1997. After standing for almost 80 years, the building was in need of major repairs. Therefore, restoration work was conducted from January 1999 through September 2001. Since November 2001, it has been open to the public when not in use for weddings and other events.
Along with Yodokō Guest House
in Ashiya
, the school is also the only other example of Wright's work in Japan to completely retain its original appearance.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
.
Arata Endo, working as an assistant for Wright's project constructing the Imperial Hotel
Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
The Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, was created in the late 1880s at the request of the Japanese aristocracy to cater to the increasing number of western visitors to Japan. The hotel site is located just south of the Imperial Palace grounds, next to the previous location of the Palace moat...
, introduced Wright to his acquaintances Yoshikazu and Motoko Hani, who founded Jiyu Gakuen. Impressed by the couple's self-reliant, Christian-oriented educational philosophy, Wright accepted to undertake the design of their new school.
Built of economical 2 x 4 wood and plaster, Jiyu Gakuen featured a central section with
double-height volume and soaring windows facing south onto an open courtyard, with
symmetrical wings on the east and west. It was built to child scale, with an architectural
richness belying its budget. Myonichikan is also given a Japanese touch by Wright's extensive use of gray-green Oya stone
Oya stone
is a igneous rock, created from lava and ash. Ōya stone was famously used in the facing of Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. One reason this stone was used is because it has a warm texture and is easily carved, which allows much versatility...
(from Tochigi Prefecture
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
) for pavements, columns and the lanterns standing in the corridors.
the auditorium. The main building stands with the two classroom buildings to the west and the
east forming a U-shape. The buildings have such characteristics as extending horizontal lines
to blend with the landscape, the so-called 'Prairie school
Prairie School
Prairie School was a late 19th and early 20th century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States.The works of the Prairie School architects are usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands,...
' design, which can be seen in
Wright's first golden age. The auditorium, designed by Arata Endo and capable of seating
around 300 people, stands across the street to the south of the site.
After the main campus was relocated to Minamisawa (Higashikurume, Tokyo
Higashikurume, Tokyo
is a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 116,006 and a population density of 8,980 persons per km²...
) in 1934, the original buildings were used by school alumni for various activities. A lengthy battle to save the aging structure was fought with the Japanese government in the 1990s. The government rewrote its regulations so that the building could be used for educational and cultural activities after being designated an National Important Cultural Asset
National treasures of Japan
National Treasures are the most precious of Japan's Tangible Cultural Properties, as determined and designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs...
in May 1997. After standing for almost 80 years, the building was in need of major repairs. Therefore, restoration work was conducted from January 1999 through September 2001. Since November 2001, it has been open to the public when not in use for weddings and other events.
Along with Yodokō Guest House
Yodokō Guest House
The Yodokō Guest House was built as the summer villa for the well-to-do brewer of Sakura-Masamune sake, Tazaemon Yamamura, and is the only surviving Frank Lloyd Wright residence in Japan...
in Ashiya
Ashiya, Hyogo
is a city founded on November 10, 1940 located in Hyōgo, Japan, between the cities of Osaka and Kobe.-Demographics:As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 93,094 and the density of 5,030 persons per km². The total area is 18.47 km²...
, the school is also the only other example of Wright's work in Japan to completely retain its original appearance.