Henkotsu-en, a former yakiniku restaurant next to the former pachinko parlor, has been designed and renovated by architect Fuminori Nousaku into a research room for interacting with residents of the island and those working on the island, among other activities.
Besides repairing the roof, which had been leaking badly, skylights were installed to brighten up the entire building. The second floor was also hacked away and transformed into an atrium to create an open space that is more versatile and feels more open. The entire building, which had deteriorated badly, was reinforced with stainless steel wire on the second floor as well as with wooden bearing walls and bracing struts along the existing steel columns on the first floor.
One unique design feature of the building is that its space can be tweaked during use. Desks, shelves, and benches have been installed between the bearing walls for DIY activities to be carried out by making use of elements of the architectural structure. To make the building more comfortable, a room with air conditioning was set up subsequently using polycarbonate as partition. The space in Henkotsu will continue to evolve along with changes in the activities carried out within the building.

^{*Polycarbonate: The hollow polycarbonate board used is made by laminating plastic boards with a skeletal frame between them to create a structure that resembles that of corrugated cardboard. The resulting material is lightweight, strong, and provides excellent heat insulation.}

Henkotsu (2022). Photo: Junpei Suzuki