二道邊界．二條軸線
本案基地位於高達十二米半的海嘯防護牆旁邊地勢較低之處，無法看見海景。我先畫出一條「大邊界」，圈住散落在腹地廣大的縣立公園各處的遺跡，再塑造出開闊和緩的地景，期能藉此療癒天災帶來的種種苦痛與創傷。在大邊界的範圍內，再另畫出一條「小邊界」，涵蓋隸屬中央政府所管轄的祈福園區。
以這樣的觀角來審視整個祈福園區，一條通往大海的軸線便從紙上油然浮現。這條「祈福之軸」朝向景緻秀麗的廣田灣延伸，途中與海嘯牆相交，另以近處Tapic45的震災遺構作為「復興之軸」的起點，貫穿博物館通往「公路休息站」。
設在「祈福之軸」與「復興之軸」交會處的大門敞開，歡迎訪客的來到。在此，我想塑造出一處具有強大力量足以改變人們心理狀態的地方。在兩條軸線交叉處設計了水池，上方的開口讓陽光投射而入，構成向天空延伸的第三條軸線。隨著後方的「祈福之軸」向海邊延伸，配置了儀式廣場，再過去來到廣場開端則是「獻花點」，最後則到達海嘯牆上方的「海景觀賞台」。
建築構建時的一大重點，是建造一百六十米長的立面時力求將誤差降到最小。透過小心掌握工廠預鑄混凝土版時的精確度，於現地建造時並使用雷射輔助量測，成功將這座超長立面的誤差值限制在±1 mm以內。立面上18,434個孔洞，代表2018年官方所公布的地震受難者人數。白色的立面對應充滿象徵性的「復興之軸」，傳達沈重肅穆的哀悼與緬懷之情。
「祈福之軸」代表的是人與大自然和解的心靈對談；「復興之軸」通往「公路休息站」，沿途行經過震災遺構，則象徵著亡者（過去）與必須繼續向前走的生者（未來）和解的對話。兩條軸線所承載的是這樣的意念。（譯：劉宛妮）
Two Subsuming Lines and Two Axis Lines
The site is on low ground, without view of the ocean, below a 12.5-meter-high seawall that extends four kilometers along the coast. I began by drawing a “large subsuming line” encompassing the ruins scattered in a broad prefectural park, then created a large and gentle landscape to heal the pain and trauma of the natural disaster. Next, within the large subsuming line, I drew a “small subsuming line” encompassing the memorial area site managed by the national government.
When the memorial area is viewed in this way, an axis line extending to the ocean naturally presents itself. This axis, which intersects with the seawall in its extension to the heart of beautiful Hirota Bay, I established as a “Axis of Pray”. Then, with the neighboring quake disaster ruins, “Tapic 45”, as a starting point, I established a “Axis of Recovery” as an axis passing from the “Memorial Museum” to the “Road Station”.
A gate welcomes people to the facility, at the intersection of the “Axis of Pray” and “Axis of Recovery.” Here, I wanted to create a strong space able to alter people’s state of mind. Establishing a pool where the two lines of axis cross, I placed an opening overhead for the entry of sunlight, thereby establishing a third axis extending to the sky. Beyond, on the “Axis of Pray” extending to the ocean, I established a ceremonial plaza and, farther beyond, a “Floral tribute spot” at the plaza’s head and a “Sea view spot” atop the seawall.
A dominant theme in the building’s realization was creating a 160-meter-long façade with a minimum degree of error. By devoting care to the accuracy of the factory-made precast concrete panels and using laser measurement in site construction methods, we were able to realize this ultra-long façade with an accuracy of ±1 mm. The 18,434 holes placed in the façade represent the number of quake victims officially announced as of 2018. This white façade—a symbol of the “Axis of Recovery”—quietly expresses feelings of mourning and remembrance.
The “Axis of Pray” converses with “feelings of reconciliation between people and nature.” The “Axis of Recovery,” passing from the earthquake ruins to the Michi-no-Eki (Rest Stop), converses with “feelings of reconciliation between the deceased (the past) and the living who must carry on (the future).” These thoughts are invested in the two lines of axis.