The Aoyama Gakuin Kaikan, built in 1968, has been renovated into a café and restaurant after more than 50 years. The first floor of this Aoyama Gakuin Kaikan was once a beloved wedding salon, equipped with a chapel and banquet hall familiar to the alumni of Aoyama Gakuin. Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ivy Hall was unfortunately temporarily closed, but it has made a fresh start as a dining and retail space open to the city.

With the desire to create a place that deepens the camaraderie between alumni and students, a retro atmosphere fitting the tradition of the Aoyama Gakuin Kaikan, along with a freshness acceptable to current students, was sought. “Retro” means to nostalgically remember the good old things. Unfortunately, the original chapel has been disassembled, but efforts were made to embed elements that trigger memories for the visiting couples who were married here. Additionally, there was a desire to preserve stories that can be told to the next generation of students who may not know of the chapel’s existence.

Here, the design is sprinkled with traces from the original chapel, including stained glass, chandeliers, and other lighting fixtures, benches, and reliefs that were previously used, preserving the atmosphere of a space that feels both new and nostalgically familiar, as if it has always been here. This space is designed to connect generations, allowing for moments that may lead one to spontaneously think of weddings or learn about the past from conversations with the staff. By opening up to the city, it is hoped that this facility will not only be cherished by the university’s alumni but also by the local community, regaining its former vibrancy.