Revival of Old Shimbashi Station
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Japan Railway & Transport Review 35 • July 2003 73 Special Revival of Old Shimbashi Station Copyright © 2003 EJRCF. All rights reserved. Revival of Old Shimbashi Station Yukio Tahara Chief Architect, Old Shimbashi Station Project History Tokyo lost many important historic buildings as a result of the massive damage inflicted by the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, bombing during WWII, and sometimes overenthusiastic redevelopment in the postwar high- growth period. The old Shimbashi Station building, Japan’s first railway terminus, was destroyed by the earthquake. The site was formerly used as a huge railway complex accommodating Shimbashi Station and later Shiodome Freight Terminal. The entire district is now being re-born as a new business, commercial and residential complex nicknamed ‘Sio- site.’ Old Shimbashi Station has been rebuilt as part of this redevelopment to commemorate its role as the birthplace of Japan’s railways. This short article describes how the reproduction of the Old Shimbashi Station was made possible. The original two-storey timber-frame stone- clad station building was designed by the American architect R. P. Bridgens as the Tokyo terminus for Japan’s first 29-km railway line between Tokyo and Yokohama opened in 1872. The passenger-terminal functions were transferred to the new Tokyo Station in 1914 and Shimbashi Station was renamed Shiodome Station, becoming Tokyo’s main freight terminal. The station building was destroyed by fire following the Great Kanto Earthquake on 1 September 1923. Major improvements in Shiodome Freight Terminal from 1934 resulted in demolition of the remaining platforms and original structures that survived the 1923 earthquake and fire. Following the closure of Shiodome Freight Terminal in 1986, the abandoned 22-ha site was sold to the private sector as part of the JNR privatization. An archaeological excavation in 1991 by Tokyo Metropolitan Government led to the discovery of the station site and unearthing of the platform and foundations of the station. In 1996, the government designated the remains of the station building and part of the platform as the Old Shimbashi Station Historic Site. In 1998, the Japanese National Railways Settlement Corporation (JNRSC), the land owners, decided to rebuild the station on its original location as a memorial to its important role in Japan’s modern history and East Japan Railway Culture Foundation (EJRCF) became responsible for the project. Construction started in December 2001, and was completed in April 2003. Analysis for Reconstruction The rebuilt station is based on computerized 3-D analysis of photographs taken just before the opening of the railway (Figs. 1 and 2). Accurate survey data obtained from the rediscovered remains (Fig. 3) were used to determine horizontal measurements, and the dimensions of the dressed stone discovered at the bottom step of the main entrance (Fig. 4) were used to determine vertical measurements. Figures 5a and 5b show the methodology of the 3-D analysis. The original platform was 150-m long (Fig. 3), but only 35 m behind the station building was designated as part of the historic site. It had a stone retaining wall on each side and each wall originally had six courses of stones (including cap stones) with the top three courses above ground level. Only the lower courses of the platform retaining wall were found (Fig. 6). Figure 7 shows the projection of the walls on the scale drawing of the remains. Policy for Exterior and Interior Design Apart from the photographs taken in 1872 (Figs. 1 and 2), there are many later photographs (Fig. 8 shows a different type of carriage porch roofing from Fig. 1) and ukiyoe wood-block prints (Fig. 9). However, none gives accurate information about what kinds of stone were actually used and what colour was really presented. Figures 1 and 2 show stones with irregular spots and the excavations revealed that a spotted tuff called Izu madaraishi from the Izu peninsula had been used in the platform (Fig. 10a). Our investigation in Shimoda City at the southern tip of Izu found some remaining madaraishi houses (Fig. 10b), but unfortunately, quarrying had stopped many years ago. As a result, we were forced to use a combination of stones of different origins. One of the most difficult questions was what the central part of the main entrance looked like. The only hint is in Hiroshige’s wood-block print (Fig. 9) showing the central opening with an arched top. We adopted the same shape but used a modern design in fair- faced concrete in order to demonstrate that this part is not based on the original design (Figs. 11a and 11b). There is virtually no reliable information about the interior so we decided to adopt a modern design to prevent confusing visitors by using a non-authentic classical design. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3
Transcript of Revival of Old Shimbashi Station
Japan Railway & Transport Review 35 • July 2003 73
Special
Revival of Old Shimbashi Station
Copyright © 2003 EJRCF. All rights reserved.
Revival of Old Shimbashi StationYukio Tahara
Chief Architect, Old Shimbashi Station Project
HistoryTokyo lost many important historicbuildings as a result of the massivedamage inflicted by the 1923 Great KantoEarthquake, bombing during WWII, ands o m e t i m e s o v e r e n t h u s i a s t i credevelopment in the postwar high-growth period. The old Shimbashi Stationbuilding, Japan’s first railway terminus,was destroyed by the earthquake. The sitewas formerly used as a huge railwaycomplex accommodating ShimbashiStation and later Shiodome FreightTerminal. The entire district is now beingre-born as a new business, commercialand residential complex nicknamed ‘Sio-site.’ Old Shimbashi Station has beenrebuilt as part of this redevelopment tocommemorate its role as the birthplaceof Japan’s railways. This short articledescribes how the reproduction of the OldShimbashi Station was made possible.The original two-storey timber-frame stone-clad station building was designed by theAmerican architect R. P. Bridgens as theTokyo terminus for Japan’s first 29-kmrailway line between Tokyo and Yokohamaopened in 1872. The passenger-terminalfunctions were transferred to the new TokyoStation in 1914 and Shimbashi Station wasrenamed Shiodome Station, becomingTokyo’s main freight terminal.The station building was destroyed by firefollowing the Great Kanto Earthquake on1 September 1923. Major improvementsin Shiodome Freight Terminal from 1934resulted in demolition of the remainingplatforms and original structures thatsurvived the 1923 earthquake and fire.Following the closure of Shiodome Freight
Terminal in 1986, the abandoned 22-ha sitewas sold to the private sector as part of theJNR privatization. An archaeologicalexcavation in 1991 by Tokyo MetropolitanGovernment led to the discovery of thestation site and unearthing of the platformand foundations of the station. In 1996,the government designated the remains ofthe station building and part of the platformas the Old Shimbashi Station Historic Site.In 1998, the Japanese National RailwaysSettlement Corporation (JNRSC), the landowners, decided to rebuild the station onits original location as a memorial to itsimportant role in Japan’s modern historyand East Japan Railway Culture Foundation(EJRCF) became responsible for the project.Construction started in December 2001,and was completed in April 2003.
Analysis for ReconstructionThe rebui l t s ta t ion i s based onc o m p u t e r i z e d 3 - D a n a l y s i s o fphotographs taken just before the openingof the railway (Figs. 1 and 2). Accuratesu rvey da ta ob ta ined f rom therediscovered remains (Fig. 3) were usedto determine horizontal measurements,and the dimensions of the dressed stonediscovered at the bottom step of the mainentrance (Fig. 4) were used to determinevertical measurements. Figures 5a and 5bshow the methodology of the 3-Danalysis.The original platform was 150-m long (Fig.3), but only 35 m behind the stationbuilding was designated as part of thehistoric site. It had a stone retaining wallon each side and each wall originally hadsix courses of stones (including cap stones)
with the top three courses above groundlevel. Only the lower courses of theplatform retaining wall were found (Fig. 6).Figure 7 shows the projection of the wallson the scale drawing of the remains.
Policy for Exterior and InteriorDesignApart from the photographs taken in 1872(Figs. 1 and 2), there are many laterphotographs (Fig. 8 shows a different typeof carriage porch roofing from Fig. 1) andukiyoe wood-block prints (Fig. 9).However, none gives accurate informationabout what kinds of stone were actuallyused and what colour was really presented.Figures 1 and 2 show stones with irregularspots and the excavations revealed that aspotted tuff called Izu madaraishi from theIzu peninsula had been used in theplatform (Fig. 10a). Our investigation inShimoda City at the southern tip of Izufound some remaining madaraishi houses(Fig. 10b), but unfortunately, quarryinghad stopped many years ago. As a result,we were forced to use a combination ofstones of different origins. One of the mostdifficult questions was what the centralpart of the main entrance looked like. Theonly hint is in Hiroshige’s wood-blockprint (Fig. 9) showing the central openingwith an arched top. We adopted the sameshape but used a modern design in fair-faced concrete in order to demonstratethat this part is not based on the originaldesign (Figs. 11a and 11b).There is virtually no reliable informationabout the interior so we decided to adopta modern design to prevent confusing visitorsby using a non-authentic classical design.
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3
Japan Railway & Transport Review 35 • July 200374
Revival of Old Shimbashi Station
Copyright © 2003 EJRCF. All rights reserved.
Construction WorksThe remains of the Old Shimbashi Stationare a government-designated historic site,so every original part must be preservedintact and forever. However, reconstructionof the station must be at exactly the samelocation as the original without harmingthe remains. To solve this paradox, theconcrete foundations of the new buildingwere built around the remains, and thespace was filled with sand to protect them(Figs. 12a and 12b). These foundationworks were done by JNRSC. As aconsequence, the new building is 75 cmhigher than the original level. Figure 13shows how the new building is supportedwithout putting any load on the remains.This reconstruction of the Old ShimbashiStation was licensed by the city authoritiesonly as a ‘contemporary’ building,meaning that it does not benefit fromexclusions to current building codes,unlike restoration works on other heritagebuildings. As a consequence it has beenbuilt to modern architectural standardsmeeting today’s requirements whilemaintaining the original appearance.The main structure is reinforced concrete.The external facing is reproduced by fixingfairly thin (approximately 50 mm) slices ofstone to the concrete body with metalfittings. To confirm the external appearance,different mock-ups were made at the site(Figs. 14a and 14b). Figure 14b shows howit looks when the stones are wet. Thereproduction of window details dependedon hand working (Fig. 15). They arecompleted thanks to the sk i l ledstonemasons and sculptors still in Japan(Figs. 16a and 16b).
The platform roof was not reconstructed forseveral reasons and we decided to adopt amodern design. Figure 17 is a periodphotograph showing the platform roofstructure. Figure 18 shows the reproducedplatform with modern pillars designed alongthe lines of the original structure. There arethree observation pits outside the building,enabling visitors to look directly at the in-ground remains (Figs. 19a and 19b).To protect the remains, the under-floor spacecannot be used for distributing utilities suchas electricity, gas, air conditioning, sewage,etc. Two boxes outside the buildingaccommodate these utilities and a moderndesign was adopted to show clearly thatthey are not based on the original design(Fig. 20a). The interior of the entrance hallis also modern (Fig. 20b).
Railway History Exhibition HallA greater part of the building is leased to arestaurant and the rest is used as the RailwayHistory Exhibition Hall (RHEH) run byEJRCF. Figure 21 shows the RHEH groundfloor from the top of the staircase. Visitorscan see part of the original foundationthrough a large floor window. The groundfloor also exhibits excavated relics includingforeign products used by British engineerswho built the first railway in Japan. Theupper floor is used for short-term exhibitionson various changing themes. Outside thebuilding next to the platform, 7 m of trackis reproduced using authentic double-headedrails forged in England in 1873 (Fig. 22).The reconstructed Old Shimbashi Stationis becoming a popular sightseeing spotsymbolizing the heart of the redevelopedShiodome area. �
Figure 4
Figure 5a Figure 5b
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Yukio Tahara
Mr Tahara is a graduate of Kyoto University in civil engineering and architecture. He also studied
architecture at Leuven Catholic University in Beligium. He has been working for Nihon Sekkei Inc. as
a chief architect for heritage building preservation. This short article is a summary of his presentation
at the symposium held on 9 April 2003 to celebrate the completion of the Old Shimbashi Station.
Japan Railway & Transport Review 35 • July 2003 75Copyright © 2003 EJRCF. All rights reserved.
Figure 12a Figure 13 Figure 14a
Figure 9 Figure 10a
Figure 15 Figure 16a Figure 17
Figure 18 Figure 19a
Figure 21 Figure 22 Figure 23
Figure 10b Figure 11a Figure 11b
Figure 12b Figure 14b
Figure 16b
Figure 19b Figure 20a Figure 20b
