A roof built to span
Fifth from the north, the Gallery Hall of the University Open Center holds the most inventive engineering in the row. Each warehouse was originally split into two long rooms, east and west, each aisle framed by two rows of interior posts.
Covering that much width in timber, in 1934, took an unusual solution: the builders combined two carpentry traditions in a single roof.
Japanese and Western framing together
Over the central bays they raised a Japanese-style truss (wagoya) braced with diagonal struts (hozue); along the two flanks they set triangular king-post trusses in the Western manner (howa-torasu). This pairing of wa (Japanese) and yo (Western) framing let a wooden roof reach across a very long span.
The result gives the interior its open, uninterrupted feel. The 2000 registration recognizes the group within the historic landscape, under the registered category rather than as a designated Important Cultural Property.
Looking up in the gallery
Because the hall now shows art, the structure is easy to study. The eye travels up past the posts to where the two truss systems meet overhead.
Exhibitions change, but the frame above them is the permanent work on view. Come for the art, then stay to read the carpentry.
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Q&A
- What makes the Gallery Hall's structure unusual?
- Its roof combines a Japanese-style braced truss over the center with Western triangular trusses along the sides, a hybrid that spans the wide warehouse in timber.
- What are wagoya and howa-torasu?
- Wagoya is traditional Japanese roof framing; howa-torasu refers to Western-style triangular trusses. The two were merged here in one roof.
- What is the building used for now?
- It serves as a gallery within the university's open center, hosting changing exhibitions.
- Is it a National Treasure?
- No. It is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, recognized for its contribution to the historic landscape.
Basic Information
| Name | Gallery Hall, University Open Center |
|---|---|
| Location | 12-3 Shinya-Okawamachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) |
| Registered | 26 September 2000 (25th registration round) |
| Registration No. | 05-0061 |
| Count | One building (ittō) |
| Date | 1934 (Showa 9) |
| Structure | Single-story timber, sheet-iron roof; footprint approx. 660 sq m |
| Criterion | Contributing to the nation's historic landscape |
| Owner | Akita University of Art (public university corporation) |
| Access | In use as campus facilities; enquire with the university about visits |
References
- 国指定文化財等データベース — 秋田公立美術工芸短期大学大学開放センターギャラリー棟
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00001828
- 文化遺産オンライン — 秋田公立美術工芸短期大学大学開放センターギャラリー棟
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/137598
- 秋田公立美術大学 公式サイト
- https://www.akibi.ac.jp/
Last verified: 2026.07.08