初雪の便りも聞かれ、クルマのタイヤも交換して、いよいよ北海道は冬支度にまっしぐら。高齢者夫婦も体調管理をしっかりして冬に備えたいところ。
　カミさんの風邪気味体調がようやく立ち直ってきたので、彼女の希望に添って「北大のイチョウ並木」散策に出掛けておりました。わたしひとりなら札幌市西区山の手のわが家から、直行直退もギリギリ可能かも知れませんが、まぁクルマで駐車場まで往復して、そこからの北大構内散歩。それでも昨日は往復で夫婦とも、北大だけで10,000歩越え。
　北大のイチョウ並木は有名で昨日は「金葉祭り」までも開催されていました。しかしわたし的には北大生のための敷地内の「恵迪寮」壁面の「紅葉」ぶりの方が数寄。
　カミさんも「紅」には一家言があるようで、毎年「う〜ん、紅がもう少しイマイチ」という厳しい評価を聞かされていますが、どうも今年は及第点の参観箇所が多い。とくにこのツタの絡まる壁面紅葉ぶりは、建築美としても非常に個性的であります。
　わが家近くにも、この恵迪寮並みにツタが絡んで四季折々、たのしい外観を見せていただけれるお宅があるのですが、恵迪寮はやはり格別かなぁと。この恵迪寮は当然ながら北大の工学部など建築系のみなさんが創意を凝らした建築。世界的にも有数のすばらしい自然環境のなかで、建築がそれと「対話」している様子を表現してくれている。この寮は、写真のような本体建築が５つの方向に放射配置されて喉元のあたりから出入りするという形状。寮建築本体は合理性最優先ながら、このような北国としての表情変化の反映する壁面緑化が、ゆたかな表情を見せてくれている。
　イチョウ並木の方は地下鉄からの距離も近いので、たくさんの海外客のみなさんがたむろされていましたが、さすがに遠距離になるこちらの恵迪寮まではほぼ来られませんね。
　でもさすがにこういう日中の野外観光スポットということで、ちょっと覗いてみた北大構内の名物コンビニ店では、驚くほどの数の「お弁当」が販売され、しかもレジにも行列用の柵も臨時に設置されていました。かき入れ時なのでしょう。
　ゆっくり楽しめた秋の一日でした。帰宅後はほぼ完全バタンキュー（笑）。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Hokkaido University Ginkgo Avenue & Keidai Dormitory: A Walk Among the Red and Yellow Foliage]
As expected, the ginkgo avenue during the Yellow Leaf Festival was crowded with international visitors, but the dormitory building at the very end was nearly deserted. The aesthetic beauty of architecture that engages with nature…

　With reports of the first snow already coming in and our car tires changed, Hokkaido is finally in full swing preparing for winter. As an elderly couple, we want to take good care of our health and get ready for the season.
Since my wife has finally started to recover from her cold, we went for a stroll along the “Hokkaido University Ginkgo Avenue” at her request. If I were on my own, depending on the situation, I might just barely manage to go straight there and back from our home in Yamanote, Nishi Ward, Sapporo—but really, we drove to the parking lot and back, then took a walk through the Hokkaido University campus from there. Even so, yesterday, just on the round trip to Hokkaido University alone, both my wife and I walked over 10,000 steps.
　The ginkgo tree-lined avenue at Hokkaido University is certainly famous, and yesterday they were even holding the “Autumn Foliage Festival.” However, personally, I find the “autumn colors” on the walls of the “Keidai Dormitory”—located on campus for Hokkaido University students—to be even more charming.
　My wife also seems to have strong opinions about “autumn colors,” and every year I hear her harsh critique: “Hmm, the reds are still a bit lacking.” But this year, there seem to be many spots that meet her standards. In particular, the autumn colors on this ivy-entwined wall are exceptionally unique, even as a work of architectural beauty.
　There’s a house near my home that’s just as covered in ivy as the Keidi Dormitory and offers a delightful exterior view throughout the seasons, but I still think the Keidi Dormitory is in a league of its own. Naturally, this dormitory is a structure designed with great creativity by students from Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Engineering and other architecture-related programs. Set within a natural environment that ranks among the world’s finest, it beautifully expresses how the architecture “dialogues” with its surroundings. The dormitory features the main building shown in the photo arranged in a radial pattern in five directions, with entrances and exits located near the base of the structure. While the main building prioritizes functionality above all else, the green walls—which reflect the changing seasons typical of this northern region—lend it a rich and varied appearance.
The ginkgo-lined avenue is close to the subway station, so many international visitors were gathered there, but as expected, almost none of them make it all the way out here to the Keidi Dormitory, which is quite a distance away.
　However, as this is a popular daytime outdoor tourist spot, I decided to take a quick peek inside the famous convenience store on the Hokkaido University campus. To my surprise, they were selling an astonishing number of “bento boxes,” and temporary barriers had even been set up at the checkout lines to manage the crowds. I suppose it’s peak season.
　It was a leisurely and enjoyable autumn day. After returning home, I practically collapsed into bed (lol).

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 11月 2nd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類