The “Model Barn” Site

Arguably Hokkaido University’s most important heritage buildings, a group of farm buildings situated on the northern side of the campus recommended to be constructed by Dr. W.S. Clark still exist today. The structures consist of a large dairy barn, a silo, corn storage barn, a building for threshing and hulling grain, a milk processing plant and a food processing plant. Of all the structures, it is the ‘Model Barn’ that is the oldest, (1877) named by Clark with the intent to make it the ‘model’ representation for other structures to be built across Hokkaido thereafter. These splendid buildings remain the oldest agricultural buildings in Hokkaido. The main barn is a two storied wooden structure with a large snow load bearing gabled roof. Designed to maintain a healthy population of pigs, cows and horses through the frigid winters of Sapporo the site was an active farm right up until 1969. Today, it is preserved as an important cultural asset open for visitors and tourists, however access to the interiors is not allowed.

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