Sakonyama Minna no Niwa (The Park of Sakonyama Housing Complexes)

Yokohama, Japan

Photo © abanba inc.

Photo © Marumo Publishing

Photo © Kota Sugawara

Picture © Kota Sugawara

Photo © Kota Sugawara

Drawing © STGK Inc.

Landscape Architects: STGK Inc. | studio gen kumagai

Location: 157-30 Sakonyama, Asahi-ku, 241-0831 Yokohama, Japan
Year: 2017
Consultant: Urban Design Institute

The vast apartment complex of Sakonyama holds some 4,800 units, and the renovation project of its communal plaza was lead by its own management association, a rare occurrence even by national standards. Together with the residents, we have held workshops to brainstorm ideas on how to use the space, made benches to be placed in the plaza, and placed various other features all over the plaza for everyone to enjoy the space the way they want to. These features include a pizza oven that can also double as a kitchen in times of emergency, a decking stage for public presentations, benches in the shade for reading a book or for a game of Go, and a wide grassed open space for outdoor events. Sakonyama “Minna no Niwa” (everyone’s garden) will continue to provide fresh “everyday pleasures” for the residents.