We undertook fieldwork on the spatial characteristics of the suburbs and shopping centers and contemporary culture by focusing on the potential they contain rather than viewing them as a subject of criticism. And while surveying Sendai as a case study, we conceived a new urban model. In addition, we considered how shopping spaces functioned and changed at the time of the earthquake as well as before and after the event, and compiled our findings in the third issue of S-meme, a journal of cultural criticism.
PBL Studio 2 : Environmental Axis
“Urban Regeneration through a Sendai Oasis / Green Infrastructure Urbanism”
There is an increasing interest in autonomous living environments that are independent from grey infrastructure. Using the water traces carved into the river-terrace topography in Sendai, we established links with contemporary issues such as smart media and ecological services to examine methods of regeneration in a resilient urban environment based on the concept of green-infrastructure urbanism, and considered the type of architecture that would be most appropriate for such a setting.
PBL Studio 4 : Communication Axis
“Monuments and Archives”
The Great East Japan Earthquake confronted us with countless things that we should never forget. This inspired us to conceive of an environmental information system to convey knowledge about the earthquake in the future. We set to create a communication design that would transcend time through a radical questioning approach to determine what, how much, and to whom the information should be conveyed.
PBL Studio 5 : Global Axis
“Population Shifts and Urban Identity”
In a joint effort with architectural universities in Montpelier, France and Melbourne, Australia, the Department of Architecture and Building Science at Tohoku University examines various regions throughout the world every year and works together with the World Architecture Workshop (WAW), traveling to these locations and engaging with a multinational project team. In fiscal 2011, our area of focus was the French island of Réunion.
Future Lab 1(Ishigami Studio)
“Unbreakable Architecture”
Architecture expands its potential by establishing interdisciplinary connections based on new materials and spatial concepts, and everything from topographic and climatic design to extraterrestrial environments. Unearthing intellectual resources at Tohoku University, which engages many outstanding researchers, we made use of these achievements in an effort to pave the way for a new world of architecture.
Future Lab 2(Hirata Studio)
“Freedom Road City:
Proposal for an Urban Model Tangled with Sloping Land”
By viewing architecture and the city as part of a living entity, it becomes possible to envision future living environments that will be entangled with the topography and a variety of trends. In this installment of the studio, we explored the potential for future environments as an extension of our main focus based on dialogues with children in the earthquake-stricken area.
Interactive Lecture
“Conveying Design”
This lecture focused on how to convey the value and sell design as well as how to create a place to do these things.
Agile Research Project 4
“Basic Survey on Redesigning the Tsunami Inundation Area in Sendai”
In an effort to repurpose or redesign the coastal inundation area of Sendai that was heavily damaged by the tsunami, we conducted a basic survey of the local area to discover new potentials by examining the supplementation of existing urban functions, creation of a safe and sustainable environment, and preservation of memories of the earthquake. We then compiled the results in a written report. Moreover, in light of the need to condense global knowledge for future design activities, we employed a bilingual (Japanese-English) format for the report.
SSD Extension
“SSDe Shin Minatomura”
This SSD extension course was held in conjunction with the “Shin Minatomura: A Small City for the Future BankART Life III”, aspecial tie-up program connected to the Yokohama Triennale, which was held in Yokohama from August to November 2011. In addition to workshops staged by each studio, an exhibition of work by those who completed the course was held.
