Retro Japan: Elegant Kobe College architecture designed to influence students
Passing through the reddish-tiled main gate and ascending a slope, one is greeted by the refined school buildings of Kobe College. The campus harmonizes with its natural surroundings and still retains 12 buildings designed by William Merrell Vories (1880-1964), who left behind many renowned architectural works. Under Vories' design philosophy, which posited that the grace of buildings positively influences students, the college was completed in 1933.
Near the center of the campus is the cream-colored Administration Building, constructed in the Spanish Mission style. It is connected via interior corridors to the auditorium and chapel, forming a single structure with three functions. The auditorium features semicircular arch that separates the stage from the seating area, creating a space with a sense of grandeur. The chapel's windows use amber-colored glass, which bathes the interior in golden light. This seems to reflect Vories' architectural spirit aimed at distinguished architecture that nurtures a loving heart.
The campus architecture is open to the public several times a year on an irregular basis. During these times, trained students act as "tour meisters" to explain the charm of the buildings.
(Japanese original by Maiko Umeda, Osaka Photo and Video Department)
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The Japanese version of this article was originally published on Feb. 5, 2023.
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This series explores Japan's architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.
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