JR Unomachi Station

Iyo-city, Ehime, Japan

A station that connects the town to the future
The Uwacho "Hachinoji" Town Planning Master Plan was established around the time when the Uwacho Rice Museum was activated six years ago.
At that time, Seiyo City initiated a PFI project proposal in 2017, and we organized an SPC (Special Purpose Company) for the project (including the JR station building, station square, commercial facility/post office, JR overpass replacement, multi-level parking lot, information board, and undergrounding of power lines), and we were selected through the proposal process.
The redevelopment of local cities is often met with resistance from residents, and many challenges exist. Compact urbanization has been discussed for years due to aging populations, but progress has been slow. However, through the PFI project, Seiyo City took decisive steps toward progress, integrating the city hall, post office, commercial facilities, and JR station into a near one-stop compact structure.
The culmination of this effort is the JR Unomachi Station building.
Despite the small size, the station design incorporates local architectural identity, referencing the nagayamon gates of traditional farmhouses and the straw storage stacks (waraguro) used for drying and storing rice straw in the winter. Additionally, local timber from Seiyo City was prioritized for construction, including wood repurposed from the Olympic Village Plaza's "Japanese Timber Relay" project. The station serves as a symbol of Seiyo City’s commitment to welcoming both people and materials, embodying a message of sustainability and future development.

Architects
Tadashi Saito + atelier NAVE
Year
2022
Project Status
Built

Related Projects 

  • Moos
    playze
  • Reiters Reserve Premium Suiten
    BEHF Architects
  • Erweiterung und Instandsetzung Hallenbad Altstetten
    MIYO Visualisierung
  • Neubau von fünf Einfamilienhäusern
    Bäumlin+John AG
  • The Forge in der 105 Sumner Street in London
    Kiefer Klimatechnik GmbH

Magazine 

Other Projects by Tadashi Saito + atelier NAVE 

Zenkonyu x Tamping Earth
Kagawa, Japan
Hanchiku House
Kagawa, Japan
Manno-town Kotonami Comprehensive Center
Manno-town, Kagawa, Japan
Conservatory
Kagawa, Japan
Isunoki
Kagawa, Japan