Hirakata Center for Performing and Visual Arts

A space interweaving culture, art and greenery. The Hirakata Performing and Visual Arts Center sits in central Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, thirty minutes by train from Osaka and Kyoto and five minutes on foot from Hirakata Station. Three halls and an art gallery are designed as one space interweaving culture, art and greenery, aiming to create a new city landmark loved by citizens. Outside, the plaza in front distributes cultural and artistic spaces, including lawn, shaded areas and a stage for casual gatherings. Interior creation is based on continuity with the outside world: courtyards and green eaves build a space rich in nature and sunlight, so inside and outside act as one comprehensive space carrying citizens' artistic activity. The compact, elegant hall is designed as a refined civic interior with good acoustics and flexible seating for concerts, theater and ceremonies. The center has been welcomed by citizens as a new cultural living room and has helped reposition Hirakata as a cultural destination between Osaka and Kyoto.