By NPOOn the Road | Tokyo office
Our ongoing reconstruction project “Long Beach House” is in progress.
Ishinomaki Watanoha district,suffered severe damage by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and this project shall become a symbol of the area’s reconstruction efforts.
We will build a complex facility, which contributes to the restoration and reconstruction of the area and to strengthen local community.
Our project has just started!
Progress
Land lease contract will be concluded shortly. Ground survey has been performed and we received cleaance for construction. Currently, with our design office, we are discussing the construction details to fulfill our requirements (functions, interior design,..etc) as well as working menu.
Construction location
AddressMiyagi Prefecture, Ishinomaki City, Watanoha, Hamasonenoichi 47-1
Land Area411 Square Meters
The site is 10 minutes on foot and 3 minutes by car from Watanoha station, about 15 minutes drive from the nearest town center (Ishinomaki Station). It is located on expressway no.398 which is the main road that runs from the Oshika Peninsula and the town of Onagawa to downtown Ishonomaki, and to the north runs along the Sanriku coastal area until joining the expressway no.45 at Minami Sanriku which runs all the way north to Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture.
Structure of steel material
Our architect proposed a perfectdesign considering disaster prevention.
Completion of this building is scheduled next February before starting the third year of the Great East Japan Earthquake. We believe that at least we can start with a pre-opening prior to March 11.
Primary function of the facility
Community Space
Since August 2011, On the Road have provided a “temporary housing support unit”, running tea gatherings and workshops in public spaces at temporary housing aimed at deepening ties between residents to help bring about community building.
We will draw on our experience and ties forged through our activities so far to ensure that the completed facility functions as a community space that provides support to not only those in temporary accommodation but also to the wider populace in neighboring regions. We will run a meaningful facility that can be used productively by the local people.
Guest House
When considering the “restoration” of the coastal area of Sanriku, which suffered immeasurable damage in the mega quake and resulting tsunami of 2011, one phrase we often hear in the region is “a higher non-resident population”. Ishinomaki in particular, was thrust into the limelight due to the enormity of the damage it suffered and the success of its volunteer activities; its name resonated throughout the country and many people wanted to come back to Ishinomaki. Unfortunately, the lack of places to stay meant that many could not make the desired return trip.
From the angles of both “restoration” and “raising disaster awareness”, there are many valuable lessons to learn for people coming from outside to stay in the region. Given this, we would like to create accommodation within the integrated facility to enable as many people as possible to come and visit the area.
Community Market
The market corner, housed within the community space, will offer a plethora of products including merchandise development exclusive to this market place. Centered on stores currently selling through the “Ishinomaki Recovery Department Store” which is one initiative we are currently implementing with Yahoo! as a regional industry restorative aid project, we will also reach out to local SMEs who are commencing activities oriented toward recovery, to come and set up shop.
Café and Bar
We believe that some kind of café and bar is essential to ensure that locals and tourists can easily drop in to the facility. We will run this to provide catering to people who have get-togethers in the adjoining community space, as a space for people staying in the guesthouse, and will amongst other things serve dishes that use ingredients sold at the community market. Ingredients will be themed “locally produced and consumed”, and will all originate from the Ishinomaki area.
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We are expected to work at an accelerated pace from now and we are so glad that we are working on this project !
We highly appreciate your consideration and cooperation !
Thank you.
October 10, 2013
NPO On the Road
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