In March 2024, Riken Yamamoto became the ninth Japanese architect to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the most prestigious award in the field. While his works are diverse, including the Yokosuka Museum of Art and Saitama Prefectural University, one of his most notable creations is Future University Hakodate in Hakodate, Hokkaido.

What is Future University Hakodate?

The campus with a view of Mount Hakodate to the south

Opened in 2000, Future University Hakodate is the only public university in the Southern Hokkaido region. It specializes in Systems Information Science and has produced many graduates in fields highly valued in modern society, such as artificial intelligence and data science.

The university is located about a 25-minute drive from Hakodate Station and about 10 minutes north of the Goryokaku area. Situated on a hill, the campus offers panoramic views of Hakodate city, Mount Hakodate, and the Tsugaru Strait.

Embodying the University's Philosophy: "Open Space, Open Mind"

The Studio

The campus, designed by Riken Yamamoto, is filled with a surprising sense of openness. Its most distinctive feature is the "Studio," a vast, open-atrium space approximately 20 meters high and 100 meters wide. You can see what people are doing even from a distance, and the various activities happening throughout the space naturally blend together, creating a sense that everyone is sharing a single environment. An administrative staff member at Future University Hakodate shared, "When high school students visit the campus for the first time, they gasp in awe upon entering this studio."

Delta Vista on the 4th floor of the Studio

Furthermore, faculty research labs, lecture halls, the library, and administrative offices are all enclosed in transparent glass. The underlying philosophy behind this campus design is the spirit cherished by Future University Hakodate: "Open Space, Open Mind."

Atelier

Laboratory

Information Library (South side)

Open learning in an open space aims to create a two-way learning circuit between students and faculty, rather than just a one-way flow of knowledge. The idea that all time and space on campus is dedicated to learning is embedded in the architecture itself. This vision is vividly conveyed in the original design sketches.

Sketch by Riken Yamamoto (Courtesy of Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop)

Open to the Public for Visits on Weekdays

The Mall

For those interested in visiting, the campus is open to the general public on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Additionally, residents of Hakodate can use the Information Library. These aspects truly show that Future University Hakodate, designed by Riken Yamamoto, embodies the spirit of "Open Space, Open Mind."

The Information Library, also available to Hakodate residents

Set in Hakodate, this institution will continue to be a place of future-focused education, opening up new possibilities for its students.