Tonami Public Library / MIKAMI Architects

The stunning view of the tranquil Tonami Plain is unparalleled. Once a food basket for the Kaga Hyakumangoku (the wealthy Kaga Domain), the panorama of dispersed villages has been inherited down through the ages as a beautiful pastoral landscape. We saw the reason for this in the dignity of the local people, combining rationality and a rich spirit, which evolved into the appearance of the traditional wooden farmhouses called Azumadachi. With such an image in mind, We came up with the concept of an “open-plan library under a big roof” facing the main street that runs through the city.