Usagimochi Hare-Rate Tsubame is an indoor children’s playground located in Tsubame City, Niigata—a region renowned for its metalworking heritage and the harsh climate of the Japan Sea coast. Conceived as an all-weather community sanctuary, the project offers a safe and vibrant environment where children can play freely throughout the year, protected from heavy winter snowfall and humid summers.
The interior is organized into three distinct plazas—Yochi-Yochi, Suku-Suku, and Wai-Wai—each tailored to different developmental stages and play intensities. Encircling these areas, a looping second-floor track encourages active movement, while expansive safety nets span the voids above the plazas. This vertical openness fosters a lively visual dialogue between levels, allowing children to see one another from above and below and enabling parents to supervise effortlessly from multiple vantage points.
At the heart of the plan lies Minna-no-Hiroba, a central hub for rest, gathering, and inclusive play. Its defining feature is a large donut-shaped wooden bench that invites climbing, hiding, and reclining. Designed to be accessible to children of all abilities, this element symbolizes the project’s commitment to inclusivity and universal design.
Externally, the architecture is characterized by three interconnected domes of varying scales. Their soft, sweeping curves echo the expansive Echigo Plain and the silhouettes of Mount Yahiko and Mount Kugami, grounding the building within its local landscape. This rhythmic roofline creates a recognizable community landmark, gently enclosing a world dedicated to children’s curiosity, movement, and social interaction.
