Petition to save Kenzo Tange's gymnasium from demolition in Japan
A petition aimed at preserving the Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium, crafted by Kenzo Tange (1913-2005), has garnered over 4,000 signatures from activists and supporters. The discussion around its fate has intensified with a new sports facility expected to launch in 2024. The Kagawa Prefectural Government is contemplating selling the gymnasium, but without a prospective buyer for its restoration, demolition seems imminent. Constructed in the 1960s, this gymnasium, known as the "nautical gymnasium," boasts a deep concrete ring and a cable-supported roof made of thin slabs. It was closed in September 2014 due to seismic concerns and leaks. In 2018, it was listed on the World Monuments Watch, with American Express committing $1 million for its preservation. Nonetheless, the threat of demolition persists.
Key facts
- Over 4,000 activists and supporters have signed a petition to save the Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium.
- The gymnasium was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Kenzo Tange.
- A new sports facility is being built nearby, expected to be completed by 2024, to replace Tange's gymnasium.
- The Kagawa Prefectural Government is open to selling the building but no buyer has been found.
- The gymnasium closed in September 2014 due to lack of seismic retrofitting and roof leaks from rusted suspension cables.
- In 2018, the gymnasium was included in the World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund.
- American Express announced $1 million in funding for conservation efforts at eight Watch sites, including this gymnasium.
- In 2019, the WMF launched a project to inform the local community and started a petition against demolition.
Entities
Artists
- Kenzo Tange
- Masanori Kaneko
Institutions
- World Monuments Fund
- World Monuments Watch
- American Express
- Kagawa Prefectural Government
- Artribune
Locations
- Kagawa Prefecture
- Japan
- Takamatsu
- Tokyo