Former Hokkaido Government Office Building (Akarenga, or redbrick) (National Important Cultural Asset) The Former Hokkaido Government Building, nicknamed Akarenga or “redbrick,” was constructed in 1888 in the Neo-Baroque style. It is an exemplar of Meiji architecture. The leafy forecourt is now an oasis for visitors. The redbrick building is a reconstruction; the original building burned down from poorly installed chimneys. A stone marker on the north side of the building shows a floor plan of the Hokkaido Development Commission headquarters, which were in this building. The Hokkaido Archives inside are open to the public.