The significance of restoration beyond economic rationality

Mitsubishi Ichigokan was designed by Josiah Conder, a British architect who came to Japan in 1877 and left a legacy of modern architecture. Construction began in January 1892 and took 36 months to complete in December 1894. It was Marunouchi's first office building, featuring a Queen Anne style tenement house floor plan, typical of the British Victorian era. Its foundations were built on pine piles, its structure was earthquake-resistant brickwork reinforced with steel bands, and its roof was Western-style wooden trussed with queen post trusses and finished with domestically produced slate. Due to the demands of the times, the building was demolished in 1968. This latest restoration, however, has revealed a detailed picture of its original appearance through the examination of original blueprints and documents, as well as surveys of demolition drawings and preserved materials. The restoration requires a total of 2.28 million bricks, including 2.08 million structural bricks and 200,000 decorative bricks. Approximately 120 craftsmen, including bricklayers, stonemasons, and scaffolders, are currently working on the project each day. Aside from the use of cranes to transport the heavy exterior stonework, all work is done by hand. The sight of the craftsmen closely packed into the small construction site, laying bricks and stones, evokes a time when, under Conder's guidance, Japanese architects and craftsmen, including his apprentice, Tatsuzo Sone, attempted Western architecture. It also highlights the legacy of the bricklayers' spirit and skills, passed down for over a century. While the craftsmen's discerning eyes ensure high precision and finish, the brick walls, crafted entirely by hand, have a unique texture that conveys the warmth of human hands. Unfortunately, however, it's unlikely that Japan will ever see another fully brick-built building like this again in the future.