Enjoy 2 free articles a month. For unlimited access, get a membership now.

The Axis of Peace

Hakuten

SAVE SUBMISSION
Bronze
Yokosuka Central Park was used as a "turret" during World War II. Therefore, we designed a monument of lighted turrets of peace. - Nacasa & Partners Inc. | Akira Arai
At night, it is filled with small circles of light, filled with people's wishes for peace, which harmonize with the light particles of the houses visible from the hill. - Nacasa & Partners Inc. | Akira Arai
After dark, the monument becomes a turret that emits the light of peace into the sky, representing the axis of long-lasting peace. - Nacasa & Partners Inc. | Akira Arai
Yokosuka Central Park was used as a "turret" during World War II. Therefore, we designed a monument of lighted turrets of peace. - Nacasa & Partners Inc. | Akira Arai

1 / 18

Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Light
7.25
6.52
7.41
5.50
6.67
Astin le Clercq
Astin le Clercq Cofounder and Design Director at Modem
8
6
7
6
6.75
Michela Falcone
Michela Falcone Architect / Educator at Experimental Architecture / BNU University
7.5
6
7.5
5
6.5
Qi Wei
Qi Wei Member, Urban Renewal Professional Committee, Vanke Shanghai Area at Vanke Group
7
7
8
5
6.75
Thijn de Ruijter
Thijn de Ruijter Founder and Executive Partner at Karin Lauwers Agencies
7.95
7.95
7.95
7.95
7.95
Bernhard Kurz
Bernhard Kurz Founder at IFUB*
5
5
5
3
4.5
Lisa Torreggiani
Lisa Torreggiani Partner at Monkeydu
7
5
6.5
5
5.88
Melissa Amarelo
Melissa Amarelo Cofounder and Creative Director at Toi Toi Toi Creative Studio
8
8
8
6
7.5
Massimiliano Tosetto
Massimiliano Tosetto Managing Director at Lodes
8
5
8.9
6
6.98
Britt Berden
Britt Berden Senior Creative Strategist at FranklinTill
7
7.5
7.5
5
6.75
Karen El Asmar
Karen El Asmar Architect & Interaction Designer at Tech
7
7
8
6.5
7.13
Simal Yesiltepe
Simal Yesiltepe Founder and Creative Director at Simal Yes Studio
7
7
7
4
6.25
Bob Chen
Bob Chen Founder at Bob Chen Design Office
6.83
7.28
6.92
7.01
7.01
Sophie van Winden
Sophie van Winden Director at Owl Design
8
6
8
5
6.75
Designer
Client
Yokosuka City
Floor area
30 ㎡
Completion
2021
Social Media
Instagram Facebook
Lighting

Yokosuka Central Park was used as a "turret" during World War II. Therefore, we designed a monument of lighted turrets of peace. After dark, this monument becomes a "Light of Peace Turret" that shines the light of peace into the sky, representing the axis of universal peace. The light, which is over 1000 meters long, can be seen from a distance, allowing people to feel the thoughts of peace in their daily lives. Even if the town loses power in the event of a disaster, the lights are designed to be turned on by a generator, leading people like a lighthouse to the park that serves as a wide-area evacuation site.

The axis of peace has been added to the landscape of Yokosuka, supporting the lives of the approximately 20,000 residents living nearby as a new landscape. The ceiling and the central column of the monument are decorated with many circles. A circle, which has meant infinity since ancient times, is drawn by citizens with their wishes for peace and engraved on the monument. We used the sea breeze blowing from the high ground of the park to create the pattern of the carved circles. The hand-drawn circles were carefully punched one by one with a laser. We incorporated the memories of the turret into the design of the monument, such as the bricks used in the turret at that time, the cherry blossoms engraved on the bricks, and the shape of the base. The cherry blossom crest printed on the bricks of the former turret was captured by a 3D scanner and reproduced as a texture for the concrete foundation. 

The hope of the people and the memories of the land were engraved on the monument. During the day, the monument is bathed in sunlight and the light leaking from the circles that people have painted on the monument allows visitors to feel a sense of peace. At night, it is filled with small circles of light filled with people's wishes for peace, which harmonize with the grains of light from the houses seen from the hill, and the words of peace from around the world appear. We did not just build a monument, we tried to create a new landscape. 

The pillar of light also serves as a kind of calendar that tells residents about seasons and anniversaries by lighting up in different colors on special days. Recently, a blue and yellow peace pillar was lit to wish for peace in Ukraine. It has become a place where many people can pray for peace around the world. We decided to involve citizens in the design because we feel that it is important to connect with people now that the COVID-19 disaster is upon us. And by combining the memories of the past with the monuments, we hope that they will be loved by people of all ages for a long time to come. 

This monument is used in a variety of ways. It has been used for wedding photos, as a resting place for walkers, and as a live stage for local artists. We will continue to work with the citizens to create a landscape of peace that changes as it is used in various ways.