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 behind many modern buildings. Construction began in January 1892 and was completed in December 1894 after 36 months. It was the first office building in Marunouchi, and is characterized by its Queen Anne style, Victorian British tenement house floor plan. The foundation was made of pine piles, the structure was earthquake-resistant brick with openings reinforced by steel bands, the roof was Western-style wooden truss with queen post trusses, and the roof was finished with domestic slate. It was demolished in 1968 due to the demands of the times, but this time it was restored as faithfully as possible, and the original appearance was clarified in detail by examining the blueprints and documents from the time, the actual measurements from the time of demolition, and the preserved materials. The total number of bricks required for the restoration is 2.28 million, including 2.08 million structural bricks and 200,000 decorative bricks. Currently, about 120 craftsmen, including bricklayers, stonemasons, and scaffolders, are working on the construction every day. Except for the use of cranes to carry the heavy exterior stone, all work is done by hand. The sight of the craftsmen stacking bricks and stones in a small construction site is like a revival of the era when Japanese architects and craftsmen, including Conder's disciple Tatsuzo Sone, attempted Western architecture under his guidance, and it strongly reminds us that the spirit and skills of the bricklayers have been passed down for over 100 years. The brick walls, which are produced by hand using all materials while maintaining high precision and finish through the craftsmen's keen eyes, have a unique texture and seem to convey the warmth of human hands. However, unfortunately, there will likely be no opportunities to build a completely brick building in Japan in the future.