Preservation of the Traditional Townscape in Yanaka, Tokyo New Renovation System with Architects in Residence
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Preservation of the traditional townscape in Yanaka, Tokyo New renovation system with architects in residence 安田研究室 15M51638 ロチャ・アンドレス (ROCHA, Andres) 1. INTRODUCTION The district stretching from north- Nippori St. east to east-center Tokyo neighborhoods- Yanesen (Yana- Yanesen Neishi ka, Nezu, and Sendagi) and Negishi to Ueno, Hongo, Aki- Machiya homes and Alleyways habara, Kanda, Jimbocho, and Yushima- is home to a large Uguisudani 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 Nishikata of this, each of the areas composing the district has suf- Hongo Ueno St. fered significant transformations starting from the large- Ueno scale developments before the 1964 Olympics. Solely, by Acedemic culture at Art at Museums chance and community activism, some areas have man- Tokyo University and The Tokyo University of the Arts aged to escape major damages in the 1923 Earthquake Yushima and the Second World War, retaining the atmosphere of Okachimachi Spiritual Culrure Akihabara the 19th and early 20th century. However, due to the in- Shrine and Yashima Seido crease of pre-war buildings in need of major renovations, Pop culture of Manga many of these areas have been facing the threat of aggres- and Anime Hitotsubashi/Jimbocho sive redevelopment. A growing number of foreign visitors, Akihabara St. further endangers the special characteristics of the place. Library Area Therefore, Yanaka has been selected for a study aiming Old Bookstores and Publishing companies Kanda to propose a system for preserving and renovating the old Spiritual Culture in the buildings and to create a balance between the locals and Kanda St. Edo Era. Traditions the tourists with the intention of maintaining the cultur- of Kanda Festival al resources that frame the distinctive image of the area. Education 谷中 Temple Area Urban Re-dev. Pedestrian Routes Green Areas Shrine Area Housing Re-dev. 2 Km Radius 2. SITE Yanaka is a historical part of Tokyo developed Ueno Zoo Religious Facility Major Roads Cultural Centers as a temple town in the Edo period (1603- 1867) that still Cemetery Museums Major Roads Project Site retains the charm and the warmth of the past and a rich Fig. 1 Tokyo’s cultural resources area culture of everyday life. Located next to Ueno Park, the neighborhood still brings home to more than 70 temples Soft/ Intangible and buildings from Meiji era. Thus, in spite of natural P *Local People h * * disasters and war, old buildings remain, retaining much y Y Y s *Pre- war a a i c n n Building of the traditional townscape. In recent years, Yanaka a a *Students a l k k T a a *Volunteers o s has undergone a transformation, and traditional spaces w G R e y n e i u s c n s Balance i q n a have been adapted to art galleries, cafés, restaurants and e z i c o g n a n i a Livelihood t e i h p * S L c d S Airbnb. Others have been demolished and replaced by e h - e a t o r r T e Extended Comunity t e * t g l parking spaces. Together with the local shopping street, e e a s a n l t t l i s c g i r c o k a the town’s characteristic small alleyways have become e a L i S *Yanaka WS p H * * A popular attractions for foreign visitors. As a result of the e l l e Self- construction y difficulties for property owners to dispose of the old tra- *Tourists s Workshop ditional buildings, the construction of large-scale condo- *Craftsmen *Artists miniums around the area, and the rapid growth of visi- tors in response to the movement towards the Olympic Outside Community Inside community Games in 2020, Yanaka’s traditional townscape has been Tangible /Hard changing under the name of re-development (Fig.01). Fig. 2 Yanaka’s cultural resources. Problematics and strategies 3. DESIGN STRATEGY In order to approach the is- Renovation Project References sue that represents the developments, considering No Name Funding Planning both the intangible and tangible characteristics of 1 Hagiso Crowdfunding Owner the area, extended community and Yanaka Work- 2 CASACO Government Public- private 3 YUUTO Village Private Owner shop were selected as design strategies (Fig.02). 4 Kitaoji House Sponsorship Workshop 3.1 Extended Community The practices, representations, 5 Chidori Bunka Private Community knowledge and skills preserved and passed on through Ref. No.1 Hagiso 6 Hida Kuma Sponsorship Community generations, are a special part of the cultural identity of Hagiso’s Renovation Network the town. Locals (Inside Community) aim to protect the Network Community Output cultural resources of the area from the high pressure cre- B ated by the tourists (Outside community). As these two 1. Planning 2. Funding 3. Execution groups have diverging behaviors, an extended commu- is introduced as a new temporary contributor, which Input HAGISO Network nity A through the daily life experience manages to balance the Fig. 3 Renovation System references contrast in behaviours and interests between the existing plementing load bearing walls (耐力壁), combining struc- communities. tures of two or more houses through the separating void 3.2 Yanaka WS Much of the original townscape and its or through a shared wall, extending the existing spaces distinctive characteristics have been protected and pre- in the vertical axis or in the horizontal axis, Revealing served. These resources can be observed in 4 different the original structure and implementing new materiality areas: Yanaka Ginza Shotengai, Temple/ Shrine area, Al- are the physical targets to be achieved by the renovation. leyways, and Cemetery. Intertwined within these areas, 4.2 Functional approach Learning, creating and connect- Pre-war houses with historical value listed in “Taito ward ing are the three practices to be developed as part of the cultural property Survey Report”1 urging renovation can renovation process by implementing AIR谷中 system. be found. As these buildings are a legacy with high value Learning, participants study and learns from lo- to be maintained, a self-construction workshop (Yanaka cal carpenters the practical aspects of traditional WS) is stablished aiming to renovate and upgrade each timber construction on site. The extended commu- one of the houses. For preserving the living culture of nity interacts directly with the inside community. the area such as alleyways, shopping district, historical Creating, prototyping and construction of large- scale wood- buildings, and local’s lifestyle’s distinctive character, con- en structures involving the construction industry and the nections between each of the resources are taken into con- creation of traditional handcrafts, involving the network sideration (Fig.03). Architects in Residence System (AIR of galleries and young artists today present in the area. 谷中) has been established as the renovation strategy. Connecting, the inside community is willing to share AIR谷中 gives the opportunity to the Extended Commu- Yanaka’s resources with the Outside community. Open nity (Architecture students, craftsmen and young artists) spaces are proposed for creating awareness of the trea- to stay in Yanaka. Therefore, by attaining and developing sures and traditions in the neighborhood (Fig.06). skills in traditional timber construction techniques on the site for a period of time participates actively in the reno- 5. CONCLUSION This proposal suggests an alternative vation activities (Fig.04). approach to the recurrent difficulty of dealing with old buildings in Japan. While the easiest way is to stop resist- 4. DESIGN PROPOSAL Housing is the main function of ing and submit to an aggressive development that omits the buildings to be renovated. Even though such build- the legacy of traditional communities like Yanaka, AIR ings gather together and create a private community, it 谷中 is a system that brings together architects, crafts- is considered how these houses to be renovated can be men, tourists, The local community and the industry linked to the economic and cultural network in Yanaka. with a common purpose, and thus creates a participative For preserving the main physical features and addition- way of recovering and preserving traditional townscapes ally creating a contemporary space within a traditional with high value for future generations. Eventually, AIR module a methodology from two approaches is proposed. 谷中 can be applied by any other community willing to 4.1 Spatial approach Structural Reinforcement by im- 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 ② PLANNING PHASE YING First Renovation / New Building site BU VISITIN Upgrade Project Previously Gas Station G AR T Open Call for S P Design Workshop A C 谷中 Store 谷中 Art Gallery E NEW PROJECT 谷中 Area House Study Students Artist Tourists Community + NPO in Residence Furniture Art Piece Projects Study + N MA Practical Studio AFT CR ITH UDIO W E ST CT TH A TO INVESTMENT ¥ ¥ ¥ Housing Renovation ER RN 谷中 Area House T TU ④ EXECUTION PHASE IN RE Recycled Material Project Selection Study LOGISTIC SUPPORT Community TECHNIQUE + IMPLEMENTATION PROPOSAL WORKFORCE Taito Ward Funding INVESTMENT ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ YANAKA WORKSHOP RENOVATION THE IDEA THE HOUSE TO -AIR- 谷中 UPGRADE PROJECT BE RENOVATED ¥ ¥ Crowd Funding G N I V I ① FUNDING PHASE L Housing Structure Extended Community Knowledge + Knowledge -AIR- 谷中 Skills Return N Foreign House R 谷中 Caftsman Home U Call for Applicants T Povides E Traditional Technique R A Renovated House + A New Function Nap Space Walls for the Town LIVING EXPENSES G N I ¥ ¥ N R “ Traditional Japanese Families A E Cooking Classes Roof Wooden Construction + Techniques 木造軸組工法” Homestay in 谷中 Industry Research ELEMENTS HOUSE COMPONENT Family House + Prototyping New The System Repeated [ 3 Months - 1 Year Residence ] Residents Alleys and Streets Recover Livelihood 1 Table Cafe Doors - Windows ③ INITIATION PHASE Fig.