Archive
2015.06.01
Series | Old Drawings Journey No. 05
Marunouchi Building No. 1 to No. 13 - Underground Floor and Ground Illumination Diagram (Uchida Shozo) [Message from the Past]
Yasufumi Onishi
When investigating old drawings, we sometimes come across drawings that were drawn with a special intention. This drawing is one of them (Figure 1). The cross sections of the basement exterior walls from Building 1 to Building 13 are lined up. Is it the zero point of the Reigishijima water level mark? Is it the tide level at high and low tide? It's not even on the seashore? We turn into technical detectives and stare intently. What appears to be a spring water pit in Building 1 gradually gets smaller, ends in Building 5, and reappears in Building 12. We glance over the building drawings, wondering if there was something before Building 12. That's right! Building 12 adds a diagram that was not seen in the previous buildings, such as "Diagram showing the steam stop piles of Building 12 and the air and water drainage pipes (underground floor) on the underground floor" and "Diagram showing the layout of the underground floor drainage holes and spare toilet holes on Building 13 (Figure 2)". We read further into the drawings of Buildings 12 and 13. Then, instructions for applying asphalt waterproofing to the cross sections of the spring water pits on the perimeter were written one by one (Figure 3). This comparison diagram may be a message to future generations about the effectiveness of spring water pits in preventing rainwater from leaking into the basement when it seeps into the soil.
Bottom: Enlarged image of Figure 1
Communication between client and architect
(C: Client, A: Architect)
C
Since building 5, water has started accumulating in the basement, so please do something about it this time.
A
After giving it some thought, I realized that the spring water pit had disappeared from Building 5, so I thought this might be necessary.
C
Really? I feel like there's more water coming out at high tide. Isn't it coming from below?
A
No, as you can see, the water level at high tide is lower than the foundation. The water level of the Arakawa River is also low.
C
That's true. Well then, I hope you enjoy the spring pit.
A
Phew (relief). But I'm a little worried. If it's not rainwater, I'll be in big trouble (sweats).
the next day
A
Professor Condor, what should we do?
C
Young people, take a good look at Building No. 1. Make sure there's a good level difference between the basement floor and the bottom of the pit so that we can divert the water if it does rise.
A
I see!
Thus, the young engineers rediscovered the usefulness of the spring water pit.
The above is fiction. It is merely a fantasy, but such imagination is also part of the fun of looking at old drawings.
Right: Figure 3. Diagram of the cut wall and asphalt painting of the side passage of Building No. 12 (part 2) May 11, 1898 (Kodera, Uchida Shozo)
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Author's Profile
Yasufumi Onishi
Yasufumi Ohnishi
The old drawings show us the process by which designers of the time tried and tested to improve architectural details as Japan became more international and its industries developed. As a fellow engineer, I find the passion for manufacturing that comes through in the drawings comforting.
Update: 2015.06.01