Court to Court, Sapporo, 2014

Competition proposal for the renovation of Sapporo’s patrimoine courthouse, now a historical archive, into a creative hub. Judged by an unusual jury of musicians and architects, the project expanded beyond the building itself to address the character of the city. Unlike most Japanese cities, Sapporo was planned in the nineteenth century through Western urban models of boulevards and grids. At its center, the boulevard park connects landmarks such as the former courthouse, the TV Tower, performance venues, and future cultural institutions. Yet these elements remain isolated destinations rather than forming a lively urban network. In Japan, public space alone rarely generates activity; places become vibrant when they are recognized as destinations, often through commercial activity. The proposal therefore extended beyond the competition site, introducing commercial links throughout the park. The outdoor stage became a gig venue, lawns hosted open-air cinema, fountains were paired with cafés, and underground passages with nightclubs. The former courthouse was reimagined as the central platform coordinating these artistic and commercial activities. Architecturally, the intervention was simple. A building originally conceived as a court of law was transformed into a large civic courtyard—a flexible gathering space for events, culture, and public life.

Images : Archiee studio