Drawings of the Post-war Reconstruction Plans for the Mita Public Hall

Among the architectural masterpieces of Keio University that no longer exist is the Mita Public Hall, designed by Sone Chujo Architects and completed in 1915. It appeared in history as one of Tokyo's leading halls, serving as the venue for various ceremonies including entrance and graduation ceremonies for schools within Keio, as well as lectures by famous figures and concerts, with a seating capacity of over 2,000. When the damage from the Great Kanto Earthquake was repaired, a triple arch was installed at the front. At this time, the "unicorn gargoyle" appeared on the balcony, and it was a building loved by Keio students even more than the library. However, the interior was destroyed by fire during an air raid in May 1945, leaving behind tragic ruins.

The fact that three types of reconstruction plans for the Public Hall remain was previously introduced in this magazine (July 2021 issue) (the drawings are currently on display at the Keio History Museum special exhibition "Sone Chujo Architects and Keio University II" until December 16). The 1947 plan was a literal restoration. If realized, it would likely have been finished with a simple emerald green roof. However, at a time when the Juku had to prioritize securing classrooms and laboratories, the construction was not realized. Even the war damage restoration work for the library was not completed until 1949.

The next plan was from 1950. The drawings designed by Seiji Saito, who came from Sone Chujo Architects, showed a magnificent appearance with a spire, utilizing the traditional entrance for the exterior and incorporating the old structure into the interior. The unicorn gargoyle were planned to be moved to both corners of the rooftop behind.

The third was in 1953. Only the triple arch and the entrance were to be kept as a monument, with the main body being almost entirely new. Looking at articles from the fundraising campaign held at the time under the name "Large Hall Construction Fund," there were many voices saying that the traditional Public Hall was old-fashioned and narrow, and should be turned into a medium hall or museum while building a separate large hall. Ultimately, the ruins of the Public Hall were demolished in 1957, and the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall was completed the following year. Furthermore, the following year, the first phase of construction for the West School Building, centered on Classroom 518 (now the West School Building Hall, capacity 800), was completed on the site of the Public Hall. Since the university-wide events once held at the Public Hall are now held at the Hiyoshi Commemorative Hall or the West School Building Hall depending on the scale, it resulted in a form where the building was abandoned in favor of functionality.

If the first restoration plan had been realized—while knowing it was a painful choice, it is still a matter of regret.

(Takeyuki Tokura, Associate Professor, Keio University Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies)