Photography:SS Kyushu

"Iejima Hanikusuni" is located in Ie Harbor, the front entrance to Iejima, a remote island 30 minutes from Okinawa's main island by ferry. It is a combined port terminal/cultural complex serving as a center for the promotion of tourism and local industry.
Based on the concept of a "Building that grows out of the ground", the building is designed to allow visitors to gain an interest in the island and touch upon the beauty spots, industry and history of the island.
The terminal wing has an information corner and a local produce center providing information on tourism and industry, while the hall wing offers a photographic exhibition in the hall and physical exhibits in the local museum to provide more detailed information about the island.
In order to cope with the almost perennial high-temperature high-humidity climate of the island and the soaking in sea water with every typhoon, the exterior of the building implements a double wall configuration using Ryukyu Limestone, which has excellent durability and thermal insulation properties. In addition, running costs are kept down through the use of thermal ice storage cooling systems and rain water utilization systems.