Photography:Akira Kawakami

As a facility for the promotion of lifelong learning for the city's residents, this facility undertakes the central functions of the city library and the development of experience based learning centers under the Private Finance Initiative implemented by Inagi City. From the initial proposal stages, operation, maintenance and management aspects were included in the design with the emphasis on total balance. The site is located in a rich green hilly area of the city park with an open view looking out towards the Tama River. With a comfortable reading environment that makes full use of the scenery, the placement of an experience based learning center next to the city park and the establishment of flowing pathways inside and outside the facility that connect to the walking trails around the site, etc, the characteristics of the surrounding environment have been incorporated into the design in order to emulate the stay-and-read style facilities that have become increasingly popular in recent years. In addition, by utilizing existing flat areas to ease land development and by keeping user areas to a single floor, the facility design aims to be friendly to people and the environment.