On 6 August this year it will be 70 years since the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Angela Ferguson visits the place today.
February 4th, 2015
Memorial Museum
The A-Bomb was exploded 600 m above the city, so that the full effect of its destruction was felt by Hiroshima’s people. Putting it bluntly, the city was flattened. The after effects of the A-bomb continued to be felt for years afterwards by those who managed to survive.
The inhabitants of Hiroshima are a determined people and they soon set about rapidly rebuilding their city. A few short years after it had been razed to the ground Hiroshima was proclaimed a City of Peace by the Japanese Parliament in 1949. It is now a thriving metropolis dedicated to peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons.
A-Bomb Dome
The main monuments and memorials that are part of Hiroshima Peace Park were designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. Tange practiced throughout the 20th century (he died in 2005) and was one of Japan’s, if not the world’s most highly regarded architects, winning the Pritzker Prize in 1987.
His work has a distinct modernist style that also incorporates many Japanese architectural aesthetic principles. His design for the site was the result of winning a design competition, and this is one of the many opportunities Tange had to explore the influence of his favourite architect, Le Corbusier.
Memorial Museum
Arriving in Hiroshima is surreal; it is quite obviously much newer than other big cities in Japan and it’s difficult to imagine how a city could grow out of rubble in such a relatively short time. It has a similar feel to Canberra, in that it is a very ‘planned’ city now. The Peace park site consists of the Peace Memorial Museum, the Peace Memorial Park, the Memorial Cenotaph, the Children’s Peace Monument, the eternal flame (which will only be extinguished once nuclear weapons no longer exist) and the A-Bomb Dome.
Children’s Peace Monument
The A-Bomb dome was previously the city’s main commercial and exhibition hall and is one of only a handful of heritage buildings that remain; the A-Bomb dome survived because it was almost directly under the explosion, as if in the eye of a storm.
The Memorial Cenotaph
Hiroshima is an important design destination city for many reasons; it is evidence of both shocking destruction and incredible beauty. The architecture of the Peace Site is provocative, serene and beautiful in its simplicity; it is in direct contrast to the desolate landscape from which it evolved.
To follow Angela and Stephen’s journey through Japan go to instagram @futurespacedesign @indesignlive and look out for the hashtags #futurespacetravels #indesigntravels
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
In this brand new exhibition, GH Commercial’s custom carpet solutions help local artists create joyful installations that each tell a unique story.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
At this year’s Milan Design Fair, Danish furniture brand Fritz Hansen accompanied the release of a new dining and lounge chair by Jaime Hayon with a softer, more welcoming showroom feel. Indesign managing editor Lorenzo Logi caught up with the Spanish designer on the occasion.
CUN Design redefines the retail experience with a dramatic industrial design for Qpokee, geared towards China’s Gen Z shoppers.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
With over 300 events planned, the eighth edition promises another marathon week of design and its theme is at once a proposition of hope and an urgent call-to-arms.
Symbolising a commitment to cultural preservation and timeless design, Powerhouse Castle Hill invites visitors into the stories behind the artefacts in a diverse range of educational and cultural activities.