Tsuruoka Machinaka Kinema is a cinema complex located in Tsuruoka city, small castle town in the northern part of Japan. It was converted from an old silk factory with a wooden structure into a cinema complex by Machidukuri Tsuruoka co., a social enterprize founded by Tsuruoka citizens.
Though there are few film theaters in the down town of small cities all over Japan, Tsuruoa is an exceptional one. Tsuruoka people can enjoy seeing movie films and having a chat drinking coffee in the center of the historical district.
We can see the repeated trussed girders made of wood in the entrance lounge and even in the theater halls.
Girders are lighted by the skylight installed to admit daylight to the entrance hall.
More detailed information from the architectual point of view can be found in the following magazines and books.
2010 June Shinkenchiku
2010 Sept. Nikkei-architecture
2012 June AIJ journal (Architectural Institute of Japan)
2013 Selected works of the year 2013 AIJ
2013 Magazine "Detail"
2013 August AIJ journal (Architectural Institute of Japan)
2014 Standards of Japanese Architecture
2014 Magazine "Chiiki Souzou" Autumn vol.36
And we are honored to receive such awards as follows:
2013 Anual Architectural Commendation 2013: Architectural Institute of Japan
2013 Selected Architectural Designs of the Architectural Institute of Japan 2013
2012 Motion Picture & Television Engenieering Society of Japan, Awards 2012
2012 21st BELCA Award for Tsuruoka Town Cinema
2012 32nd Award of AIJ Tohoku for Tsuruoka Town Cinema
2010 Short Listed for Leaf Award London, Tsuruoka Town Cinema
Tokihiko Takatani architect/professor
Takatani Tokihiko Atelier architecture/urban design Tokyo
Graduate School of Tohoku Koeki University Tsuruoka-City Yamagata-Pref. Japan