Hanger 1 航空機展示場丨日本福岛丨FEDL (Far East Design Lab.)

Firm： FEDL (Far East Design Lab.)

Type： Commercial › Exhibition Center Cultural › Pavilion Educational › Other Landscape + Planning › Public Park Transport + Infrastructure › Airport

STATUS： Built

YEAR： 2018

The site for "HANGAR 1" is located within the Fukushima Sky Park in Fukushima Prefecture. In addition to serving as a permanent exhibition space for aerobatic aircraft, it functions as a base for the owner's participation in air races and offers unique programs such as "Sky Lab," an aviation education initiative for children. During special events, the facility transforms the entire park into a festive plaza. Situated atop a mountain surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of Fukushima, including the Azuma Mountain Range, it acts as a hub for sharing these unique activities nationwide. As a symbol of recovery and a vision for the future following the Great East Japan Earthquake, it integrates the central themes of "people, sky, and aviation" while accommodating a wide range of uses and activities.

Designed to embody the owner's journey of competing in air races on a global stage, the building aims to inspire future generations. Its form reflects the refined simplicity of small aircraft—machines crafted to perfection by artisans and engineers—and harmonizes with its natural surroundings to stand gracefully amid its environment.

Planning

The building features a simple structure: a large steel-framed space used as an exhibition area and hangar, with a human-scale lounge and administrative office inserted above it in wooden framing. The lounge includes a balcony that extends approximately 2.5 meters toward the runway, offering a clear view of both the runway and the exhibition space. This flexible space accommodates everything from small seminars to large-scale events.

Structurally, the design needed to support over 2 meters of snow load while creating a column-free space capable of displaying multiple aircraft. The connections between steel components, material cross-sections, and mechanical systems were intentionally left exposed, showcasing the functional and structural relationships. This approach mirrors the aerodynamic design of the displayed aircraft, which are optimized to eliminate waste while perfecting details. The building was designed in order to inspire visiting children by revealing the materials, mechanisms, and craftsmanship, making the process of creation and engineering tangible and engaging.

To achieve this, joints, secondary elements, and overlapping finishes were deliberately exposed, minimizing concealment of the relationship between components. At the same time, meticulous coordination prevented the design from appearing coarse or unrefined.

Externally, the building emphasizes a simple, horizontal line inspired by the wings of small aircraft. This understated design blends harmoniously with the surrounding nature, presenting a unified, unassuming presence in the landscape.

• Client

PATHFINDER

• Status

Completed 2018

• Category

New Construction

• Location

Fukushima, Japan

• Program

Hunger

• Structural Type

Steel Frame

• Architect

FEDL

• Project Team

Takanori Ihara, Sho Ueno, Yuki Sage(Yukitect)

• Graphic

Tomoko Ihara

• Structural Engineer

T&A Associates Inc.

• Construction

Kanno Kensetsu Co.,Ltd.

• Photographer

Kouich Torimura