ABOUT ZOU-NO-HANA / 象の鼻テラスについて

CONCEPT

A NEW CENTER OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE
ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE opened on June 2nd, 2009 to celebrate the milestone of 150 years since the Yokohama port's opening. Built as a rest house with art space within ZOU-NO-HANA PARK, ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE is one of several hubs that promote a new urban development vision:"Creative City of Art and Culture, Yokohama".
With Yokohama having been a bridge between cultures and Japanese culture since its opening, ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE aims to be the site of encounters and interactions between various peoples and cultures to help evolve a new culture.
We provide original cultural programs such as arts, performing arts and music. ZOU-NO-HANA CAFE offers a menu related to these cultural programs.

PERMANENT WORKS

THE ‘PERRY’ SYMBOL

‘Perry ’created by Noboru Tsubaki, is the symbol of ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE..The ‘elephant’ that has kept watch over Yokohama for the past 150 years is a symbol of dialogue and energy, leading the city and people into the future.

PERIKO

Designed as a calf of ‘Perry ’, it was displayed at "ENJOY-ZOU-NO-HANA"(27,APRIL-13, MAY,2012) and used as a vehicle-free sign at ZOU-NO-HANA PARK.

Noboru Tsubaki / Artist

Born in Kyoto in1953. Head department of fine and applied arts, Kyoto University of art and design. Collaborating with Hisashi Muroi, Professor of Yokohama National University, he presented a huge locust balloon called "Insect World-Locust"at the Inter Continental Yokohama Grand Hotel for Yokohama Triennale 2001.

Stools made by creative children

ZOU-NO-HANA CAFE includes stools created by 55 children n Yokohama in collabollation with artist Katja Tukiainen from Finland.
Tukiainen's preliminary sketches were inspired by a Finnish fairy tale and then painted by children within design workshops.
The stools are full of memories of creative collaboration between children and international artists as well as one of the most notable items within ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE.

Planned and produced by YUKIHARU TAKEMATSU + E.P.A
Cooperation：Artek

Katja Tukiainen / Artist

Born in Pori, Finland in 1969.Now lives in Helsinki. Inspired by Japanese manga, she draws adorable girl characters with a very expressive style.

History of ZOU-NO-HANA

ZOU-NO-HANA: THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE PORT OF YOKOHAMA

ZOU-NO-HANA PARK was the site of the landing point of Commodore Perry on his second visit to Japan from the Unites States on March 31st, 1854. Yokohama was subsequently selected as one of five main ports in the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Japan and the United States in 1859. This area became the first full-scale port of Yokohama, providing the region with an area of active international trade. 'ZOU-NO-HANA' was named after the dykes in the area that resembled the shape of an elephants nose ('hana' means nose in Japanese). 'ZOU-NO-HANA' has been gradually transformed over the years.
The dykes were rebuilt following the Great Kanto Earthquake, which struck the region during the mid Meiji-era. You can study these historical incidents through displays sited within the park.

Architecture

ZOU-NO-HANA Area (ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE and ZOU-NO-HANA Park) designed by Masao Koizumi, an architect, was built as a place to enjoy water scape and night view based on the concept "visualizing the origin of the Port of Yokohama." The area is an open space which consists of reconstructed "dykes" of the Meiji-period, "wharf" with a scenic view from Nihon-Odori to the port, and green "hill" with a vie of the port and sea. At night, screen panels in the Park with time-varying illumination form a loop of light.
Located on the "hill", the building of ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE looks half-buried in the ground and is designed to blend in to landmarks including Yokohama Three Towers.
ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE is aiming to be an information center of cultural and artistic activities based on a place with a long history.

Award

2009 Urban Design Movement, Award of Sight Scape 2010 Kanagawa Architecture Contest, Award of Excellence Yokohama City, Wacoal Art Center, Nihon-Odori Revitalization Commission won a n award in the urban space category for Urban Landscape in 2010.

Facility

Masao Koizumi /　Architect

Professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University, Dr. Eng / Koizumi atelier and partners
1963 Born in Yamaguchi, Japan
2005～ Established Koizumi Atelier
2010～ Professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University, Dr. Eng.

Message from Art Director

ZOU-NO-HANA park, the birthplace of the port of yokohama, is a location that has provided many encounters with world cultures, as well as the true modernization of japan. Today this essence has been infused into the creative development of yokohama, with the park serving as a source. To celebrate the milestone of 150 years since the port's opening, we will offer a variety of exciting events at ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE, which will serve as a place for cultural interaction to provide new ideas and messages to the world.

This terrace will offer an information center for sightseeing in yokohama as well as some of the latest information on world cultures. At the　ZOU-NO-HANA CAFE, visitors can enjoy a relaxing time with attention to artistic detail in both furnishings and service. In addition, an exhibition space will be organically fused with the cafe to provide a variety of sophisticated, unique and creative programs and environments.

With the district's history in mind, we will incorporate some of the world's leading art and culture to create new culture while maintaining a connection with the creative activities of yokohama.

The opening exhibit will kick off with the port historical exhibition, in conjunction with the port's 150th anniversary events. The exhibition focuses on the structural remains of the zou-no-hana district and the changes over time from the port's opening to the present. It also calls attention to the achievements of the individuals who have contributed to yokohama's culture and growth. Using the talents of many artists and creative individuals, the exhibits express the full past and present of yokohama through cutting-edge videos and graphics.

Visitors can also see the symbol of ZOU-NO-HANA 'perry (the elephant that travels through time)'. This character was created by noboru tsubaki, an internationally active artist who exhibited his work at the first yokohama triennale. ZOU-NO-HANA CAFE includes stools created by children of yokohama in collaboration with artist katja tukiainen from finland.

In closing, i would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has kindly lent their guidance and cooperation for the opening of this venue, including everyone at the committees for the 150th anniversary of the opening of the port of yokohama and creative city yokohama, the port of yokohama, local companies and organizations, and the artists and creative individuals who have given us their support.

And I look forward to your continued support and guidance.

2009.06.
ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE
Art Director, Tsutomu Okada