Inside communityTangible /Hard
Soft/ Intangible
Outside Community
Extended Comunity
*Craftsmen*Artists
*Local People *Pre- war Building
*Yanaka WS
Self- construction Workshop
Physical Townscape
*Yanaka Ginza Shotengai *Alleys
*Yanaka Reien *Streetscape
Loca
l tra
ditio
nsH
erita
ge- L
egac
y
*Tourists
*Students*Volunteers
Balance Livelihood
*Ski
lls *T
echn
ique
s
Ref. No.1 Hagiso
B
A
Output
Input NetworkHAGISO
Community
3. Execution2. Funding1. Planning
Network
No Name Funding Planning
HagisoCASACO
YUUTO VillageKitaoji HouseChidori Bunka
Hida Kuma
CrowdfundingGovernment
PrivateSponsorship
PrivateSponsorship
OwnerPublic- private
OwnerWorkshop
CommunityCommunity
23456
1
Renovation Project References
Hagiso’s Renovation Network
NeishiYanesen
Machiya homes and Alleyways
Hongo
Yushima
Akihabara
Kanda
Nishikata
Kanda St.
Akihabara St.
Okachimachi
UenoUeno St.
Nippori St.
Hitotsubashi/Jimbocho
Art at Museumsand The Tokyo University of the Arts
Spiritual Culture in theEdo Era. Traditions of Kanda Festival
Library Area Old Bookstores andPublishing companies
Spiritual CulrureShrine and Yashima Seido
Acedemic culture at Tokyo University
Pop culture of Mangaand Anime
Education 谷中 Temple AreaShrine Area
Major Roads
Urban Re-dev.Housing Re-dev.
Major Roads
Pedestrian Routes2 Km RadiusCultural CentersProject Site
Religious FacilityMuseums
Green AreasUeno ZooCemetery
Uguisudani
Preservation of the traditional townscape in Yanaka, TokyoNew renovation system with architects in residence
安田研究室 15M51638 ロチャ・アンドレス (ROCHA, Andres)
Fig. 2 Yanaka’s cultural resources. Problematics and strategies
Fig. 3 Renovation System references
Fig. 1 Tokyo’s cultural resources area
1. INTRODUCTION The district stretching from north-east to east-center Tokyo neighborhoods- Yanesen (Yana-ka, Nezu, and Sendagi) and Negishi to Ueno, Hongo, Aki-habara, Kanda, Jimbocho, and Yushima- is home to a large concentration of cultural resources. Its history spans from the feudal era to the present days, and with just two kilo-meters in radius, it remains completely walkable. In spite of this, each of the areas composing the district has suf-fered significant transformations starting from the large-scale developments before the 1964 Olympics. Solely, by chance and community activism, some areas have man-aged to escape major damages in the 1923 Earthquake and the Second World War, retaining the atmosphere of the 19th and early 20th century. However, due to the in-crease of pre-war buildings in need of major renovations, many of these areas have been facing the threat of aggres-sive redevelopment. A growing number of foreign visitors, further endangers the special characteristics of the place. Therefore, Yanaka has been selected for a study aiming to propose a system for preserving and renovating the old buildings and to create a balance between the locals and the tourists with the intention of maintaining the cultur-al resources that frame the distinctive image of the area.
2. SITE Yanaka is a historical part of Tokyo developed as a temple town in the Edo period (1603- 1867) that still retains the charm and the warmth of the past and a rich culture of everyday life. Located next to Ueno Park, the neighborhood still brings home to more than 70 temples and buildings from Meiji era. Thus, in spite of natural disasters and war, old buildings remain, retaining much of the traditional townscape. In recent years, Yanaka has undergone a transformation, and traditional spaces have been adapted to art galleries, cafés, restaurants and Airbnb. Others have been demolished and replaced by parking spaces. Together with the local shopping street, the town’s characteristic small alleyways have become popular attractions for foreign visitors. As a result of the difficulties for property owners to dispose of the old tra-ditional buildings, the construction of large-scale condo-miniums around the area, and the rapid growth of visi-tors in response to the movement towards the Olympic Games in 2020, Yanaka’s traditional townscape has been changing under the name of re-development (Fig.01).
3. DESIGN STRATEGY In order to approach the is-sue that represents the developments, considering both the intangible and tangible characteristics of the area, extended community and Yanaka Work-shop were selected as design strategies (Fig.02). 3.1 Extended Community The practices, representations, knowledge and skills preserved and passed on through generations, are a special part of the cultural identity of the town. Locals (Inside Community) aim to protect the cultural resources of the area from the high pressure cre-ated by the tourists (Outside community). As these two groups have diverging behaviors, an extended commu-nity is introduced as a new temporary contributor, which through the daily life experience manages to balance the
① FUNDING PHASE
③ INITIATION PHASE
④ EXECUTION PHASE
② PLANNING PHASE
Housing Renovation
First Renovation / Upgrade Project
INVESTMENT ¥ ¥ ¥
INVESTMENT ¥ ¥
LOGISTICSUPPORT
Taito Ward Funding
Extended Community-AIR- 谷中
Call for Applicants
Open Call forDesign Workshop
“ Traditional JapaneseWooden Construction
Techniques木造軸組工法”
[ 3 Months - 1 Year Residence ]
Homestay in 谷中 Family House
Industry Research+ Prototyping
LIVING EXPENSES¥ ¥
Foreign House Knowledge
谷中 CaftsmanPovides
Traditional Technique
Knowledge +Skills ReturnHome
Families
NewResidents
A Renovated House+ A New Function
for the Town
The System RepeatedAlleys and Streets
Recover Livelihood
New Building sitePreviously Gas Station
NEW PROJECT
Students Artistin Residence
+Practical Studio
谷中 Art Gallery谷中 Store
Community
Art PieceFurnitureTourists
Recycled Material
THE IDEA
Community + NPOProjects Study
谷中 Area HouseStudy
谷中 Area HouseStudyProject Selection
IMPLEMENTATIONTECHNIQUE +WORKFORCE
PROPOSAL
Housing Structure
Walls
Roof
Doors - Windows
Nap Space
Cooking Classes
1 Table Cafe
HO
USE
CO
MPO
NEN
T EL
EMEN
TS
THE HOUSE TO BE RENOVATED
YANAKAWORKSHOP
-AIR- 谷中RENOVATION
UPGRADE PROJECT
VISITING ART SPACE
INTERACT WITH CRAFTMAN
RETU
RN
RETURN TO THE STUDIO
LIVI
NG
+ EA
RN
ING
BUYING
Crowd Funding
¥ ¥
¥ ¥
Fig. 4 Renovation phases- Architects in Residence (AIR) system
contrast in behaviours and interests between the existing communities. 3.2 Yanaka WS Much of the original townscape and its distinctive characteristics have been protected and pre-served. These resources can be observed in 4 different areas: Yanaka Ginza Shotengai, Temple/ Shrine area, Al-leyways, and Cemetery. Intertwined within these areas, Pre-war houses with historical value listed in “Taito ward cultural property Survey Report”1 urging renovation can be found. As these buildings are a legacy with high value to be maintained, a self-construction workshop (Yanaka WS) is stablished aiming to renovate and upgrade each one of the houses. For preserving the living culture of the area such as alleyways, shopping district, historical buildings, and local’s lifestyle’s distinctive character, con-nections between each of the resources are taken into con-sideration (Fig.03). Architects in Residence System (AIR谷中) has been established as the renovation strategy. AIR谷中 gives the opportunity to the Extended Commu-nity (Architecture students, craftsmen and young artists) to stay in Yanaka. Therefore, by attaining and developing skills in traditional timber construction techniques on the site for a period of time participates actively in the reno-vation activities (Fig.04).
4. DESIGN PROPOSAL Housing is the main function of the buildings to be renovated. Even though such build-ings gather together and create a private community, it is considered how these houses to be renovated can be linked to the economic and cultural network in Yanaka. For preserving the main physical features and addition-ally creating a contemporary space within a traditional module a methodology from two approaches is proposed. 4.1 Spatial approach Structural Reinforcement by im-
plementing load bearing walls (耐力壁), combining struc-tures of two or more houses through the separating void or through a shared wall, extending the existing spaces in the vertical axis or in the horizontal axis, Revealing the original structure and implementing new materiality are the physical targets to be achieved by the renovation.4.2 Functional approach Learning, creating and connect-ing are the three practices to be developed as part of the renovation process by implementing AIR谷中 system.Learning, participants study and learns from lo-cal carpenters the practical aspects of traditional timber construction on site. The extended commu-nity interacts directly with the inside community.Creating, prototyping and construction of large- scale wood-en structures involving the construction industry and the creation of traditional handcrafts, involving the network of galleries and young artists today present in the area.Connecting, the inside community is willing to share Yanaka’s resources with the Outside community. Open spaces are proposed for creating awareness of the trea-sures and traditions in the neighborhood (Fig.06).
5. CONCLUSION This proposal suggests an alternative approach to the recurrent difficulty of dealing with old buildings in Japan. While the easiest way is to stop resist-ing and submit to an aggressive development that omits the legacy of traditional communities like Yanaka, AIR谷中 is a system that brings together architects, crafts-men, tourists, The local community and the industry with a common purpose, and thus creates a participative way of recovering and preserving traditional townscapes with high value for future generations. Eventually, AIR谷中 can be applied by any other community willing to get involved actively in deciding the future of their town.
1. 谷中のすまい。台東区文化財調査報告書第三集
Section
ObservationDeck
Tourists Inf.Center
Courtyard
Exhibition SpaceOffice SpaceArchive
Terrace
ReadingRoom
3280
3280
5000
1FL
2FL
3FL
0 M 2M 4M
Tokyo University of the Arts
Yanaka Reien
0M 20M 100M
To Ueno Park
C. LearningT. Exhibition
PHASE 3.PHASE 2.
Combiningthrough Void
Structural Reinforcement
Combiningthrough Wall
Extendingin Horizontal Axis
Extendingin Vertical Axis
A. FabricationLab
Fig. 6 Design Proposal. Spatial Approach Fig. 7 AIR 谷中. Renovation Parameters
C. Learning C. Learning B. Co-Working
Implementing LoadBearing Walls(耐力壁)
PHASE 1.ExistingUrban Void
Constructionof Archive Space+ Tourist Space
Renovation and Extention of Office+ Exhibition + WS
RevealingOriginal Structure
ImplementingNew Materiality
Openingto Community
B
321
A
Output
Input Network
ExtendedCommunity
谷中 WSPrototype
ExecutionFundingPlanning
Network
LocalKnowledge
MaterialDonations
ExpertSkill
SkillsDevelopment
DecisionMaking
Community Events
DIY
Basic Renovation Process Network Community Contribution
Painting
DIYDemolition
Spatial Approach Air 谷中’s Renovation Network
Construction Phases
0M 3.6M 10.8M
Handscraft WSSpace
Exhibition SpaceCourtyardArchive
Tourists Inf.Center
Book Shop + Cafe
To Ueno Park
Renovation Office Building
Exhibition space. Interior Perspective
To Nezu St
To Sendagi St
Yanaka's Network Plan
1st Floor Plan
Fig. 5 AIR 谷中. Project Sites, from Ueno park to Yanaka Reien
Fig. 8 Tourists- Archive space. Plans and Section Perspective
Before
No. Y-503大沢 清谷中5-9-21大正14年
No. Y-504石井 寛行谷中5-9-22大正13年
台東区文化財調査報告書「谷中のすまい」
Case Study A
Before
No. Y-501粕谷 銭蔵谷中5-2-5昭和3年
台東区文化財調査報告書「谷中のすまい」
Case Study B
Before
No. Y-603関谷 成一谷中6-2-2明治26年
台東区文化財調査報告書「谷中のすまい」
Case Study C
After
Combiningthrough Void
A. Fabrication Lab
After
Extendingin Vertical Axis
B. Co-Working
After
Combiningthrough Wall+Extendingin Horizontal Axis
C. Learning
Innovation office
2640
2870
TouristsResting space
Section
ReinforcementLoad bearing
WallCreation space
Braces
1FL
2FL
Glass Facade
Original Roof
Original Structure
0 M 1.8 M 3.6M
Innovation office
1620
0
Ideas Studio
30600 1600 1260012600
Tourists Resting Space
Creation Space
Fab Lab
Warehouse
Before BeforeCombiningthrough the Void
Void
Original Roof
ReinforcementLoad bearing Wall
ReinforcementBrace
0 1.8M 5.4M
Yanaka Ginza
Yanaka Reien
To Nezu St
To Tennoji Temple To Nippori St.
A. Fabrication Lab
B. Co-Working
SHOP ONSENRENTAL BIKEBUS STOPART SPACE TEMPLE AREAHISTORICAL HOUSE PARK CEMETERY AREAYANAKA MAP
2nd Floor Plan 1st Floor Plan
Fig. 5 AIR 谷中. Project Sites, from Yanaka Reien to Nippori station
Fig. 9 Renovation Projects. Plans and Section Perspective, fabrication Lab