I visited Aole Nagaoka, which opened on 1 April 2013 and is located right in front of JR Nagaoka Station. It was designed by the world-famous Kengo Kuma. The futuristic design of the building makes you feel as if your senses are being sharpened just by walking around.

• Aole Nagaoka official website: http://www.ao-re.jp/

Sky Garden

The moment I saw this building for the first time, a spontaneous sigh of "Oh...! sigh escaped my mouth. The combination of the overwhelmingly novel appearance and the alternating layers of trees was indescribably bizarre and made me feel as if I had wandered into a contemporary art museum.

Just walking through the interestingly shaped and intricate buildings, you feel a pleasant stimulation, as if parts of your brain you don't normally use are being used. The whole place has a semi-unified feeling, and there are many detailed devices everywhere, such as the hanging garden when you look around.

Gymnasium

It also has a gymnasium with an area the size of four basketball courts.

This and other facilities at AORE Nagaoka can be rented free of charge to anyone as long as it is a non-profit-making activity. To be able to rent such a beautiful and spacious environment for free is... amazing! (For more information, please visit the official website.)

I was instantly smitten by how gorgeous it was and I immediately registered as a user on the spot. I am from Niigata City, but I was able to complete the registration without any problems. I think one of the attractions of this facility is that it is not necessarily available only to Nagaoka citizens!

Until now, when trying to do something new, there were inevitably costs associated with the venue and other overheads. However, if there are facilities like this that anyone can use free of charge, and if various attempts can be realised in an environment that resembles a museum, I felt an impetus for new activities and communities to be born one after another centred on this place.

--A place where people meet, exchange is born and bonds are deepened.

The new face of Nagaoka, a centre for collaboration and exchange, AORE Nagaoka. -- (Adapted from official website)

As this concept suggests, Aole Nagaoka will play an important role as a place where many people can interact with each other.

'If I could use a place like this, what would I do?' Just walking around thinking "What would I do if I could use such a place?" will surely bring you joy. Anyone is welcome to drop in, and the beautiful design makes it look like a museum, so please come and visit!

Spotlight.

Aole Nagaoka

• 1-4-10, Otedori 1-chome, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-0062, Japan