Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

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The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (横浜赤レンガ倉庫, Yokohama Akarenga Sōko^?) is a historical building and currently used as a complex that includes a shopping mall, banquet hall, and event venues. The complex is officially known as the Newport Pier Tax Keeping Warehouse (新港埠頭保税倉庫, Shinkō Futō Hozei Sōko^?), originally used as the customs buildings, and has two sections of buildings: Warehouse No.1 and No.2. It is operated by Yokohama Akarenga Co. Ltd., and located at the Port of Yokohama in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

1 History
2 Overview
3 Sources
4 External links

[edit] History

In the late 19th century, Yokohama city government worked on constructing new harbour facilities, and the first reclamation work was begun in 1899. The work was completed in 1905, and later the expansion work was started, which ended in 1906. Planned by a Japanese architect and a government official, Yorinaka Tsumaki,^[1] the current Building No.2 was constructed in 1911, and the current Building No.1 was erected in 1913, both were to be used as the buildings of costoms.^[2]

Although the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake struck Kantō areas including Yokohama in 1923, the red brick buildings were less damaged than other buildings, due to its reinforced structure that irons were implanted between each bricks. Repair work has continued until 1930, and after World War II was over, buildings were requisitioned by the American occupation troops between 1945 and 1956.^[2] After the buildings were handed over to Japan, trade has decreased sharply since the use of containerization was popularized, and the buildings also ended the role of costoms in 1989.

In 1992, Yokohama city acquired jurisdiction over the buildings,^[2] and the restoration work began in 1994, which finally ended in 1999. During its work, the roof and structure of the buildings were revitalized , which was conducted by Takenaka Corporation, a Japanese architectural company.^[3] After the inside of the buildings was renovated, the buildings were open as the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse on April 12, 2002.

[edit] Overview

The complex is divided into the building No.1 and No.2, and both are three stories high buildings, and has 22.6 metres wide and 17.8 metres high.^[3] The area of the building No. 1 is 5,575 m², and the length is 76 metres, while the building No.2 has the area of 10,755 m² in total, and length of 149 metres.^[3]

The buildin No. 1 is currently regarded as a cultural facility, and utilized as event venues such as a number of galleries, film festivals, musical competitions and plays.^[4] The building No.2 mainly works as the shopping mall and restaurant arcade, and a valcony which enables visitors to view the entire scene of the harbour opened at the 3rd floor in 2007. It is neighboured to Yokohama Chinatown, Minato Mirai 21, and Yamashita Park.