Technology of Working and Utilization of Stone for Some Facilities in the Beginning Hibiya Park, Tokyo

Abstract

This study examined into the technology of working and utilization of stone for some facilities, (1) entrance gateposts, (2) roadway curbstones and (3) pond bank stones in the beginning Hibiya Park (1903, Tokyo) by field survey and literature research. (1) The gateposts of Hibiya Park's 6 entrances were similar to gateposts of western-style building's exterior, and those were made by Japanese stonemasonry. The stones of gateposts were reused andesite or granite stones of the walls with outer castle gates of Edo castle. (2) The Hibiya park's western-style roadway set granite curbstones and concrete gutter. And the pedestrian way side in the park was set cobblestone curbstones and gutter. The cobblestones were local gardening material in Edo. (3) The bank of Shinji-ike-pond (Shinji means Chinese character 'Kokoro') : Japanese-style pond laid cobblestones randomly like the ponds of gardens in Edo. The bank of Kumogata-ike-pond (Kumogata means 'French curve') : western-style pond laid single sized cobblestones for artificial shape. Then, technology of working and utilization of stone for some facilities in the beginning Hibiya park were based on western style architecture and civil engineering, and exploited Japanese technique - skills and materials of Edo.