National Theatre Okinawa

National Theatre Okinawa in Urasoe, Japan by Shin Takamatsu, 2003

When Japanese architect Shin Takamatsu burst onto the architecture scene in the 1980's, his buildings resembled something out of a sci-fi film, like Bladerunner. Perfectly suited to the lights and cacophony of Tokyo, these early buildings made that architect's reputation, but over the years his practice Takamatsu Architect and Associates has created a diverse body of work, in size and scale as well as appearance. The recently-opened National Theatre of Japan on the island of Okinawa finds the architect balancing tradition with his thoroughly modern design sense.

The consultant committee for the newest of Japan's National Theatre had a traditional-looking building in mind when Takamatsu presented a design that has a traditional flavor without directly copying or mimicking the past. The building's exterior is dominated by a lattice-work, concrete wall on all sides that arches overhead towards the sky. A gap between the wall and the red-tile roof emphasizes the floating nature of the roof's design as well as the uniqueness and importance of the concrete wall.

Takamatsu found inspiration in the local, vernacular houses. Outside the lattice wall relates to chinibu, walls of braided bamboo, and the local red tiles, kawara, are used on the roof. A local limestone is also used at ground level to soften the arched openings of the concrete wall. Inside, color is introduced as a way to relate to the performances rather than local buildings, as colors are taken from the outfits of kumiodori performers, a 300-year-old dance drama important in the region and to be a large part of the Theatre's programs.

The main theater space uses woods (cherry and cypress) for its surfaces to help create a suitable interior environment for performances that are typically outside affairs. As well, the theater space is designed to work well for the kumiodori and to accommodate other types of performance. Just like the building, a blend of tradition and modern, the activities inside look to the past without ignoring the present or the future.