SEAPAL-PIER ONAGAWA

This open-air shopping center was designed for the residents of the town of Onagawa. Located in a seaside district that suffered heavy damage from the 2011 tsunami, it was the first project to receive approval under the Reconstruction Agency’s town revitalization program. Residential construction is no longer permitted in this area due to the city’s program to relocate homes to higher ground, but the plaza is intended to be place where people can linger after their shopping is done, perhaps meeting a friend or old neighbor by chance, and to provide a park-like space where residents can sense the nearby presence of the sea that has long been an integral part of life for this community. In contrast to the promenade that leads boldly from the train station toward the sea, however, this space is designed to offer more subtle glimpses, both via the gathering spots in the courtyards, and the alleys and meandering paths leading to the surrounding areas.