In the design of large span buildings, it is important to create the relationship to the surrounding environment. We can find various expressions of large span buildings by architects as a response to this kind of theme.
This report aims to illustrate how Japanese architects thought on the relationship between the surroundings and large span buildings, based on a study of such work as it appeared in architectural publications.
Firstly, the architect's intentions were extracted from explanatory text by the architect themselves, and each scheme was subjected to a “KJ-method” analysis (originated by KAWAKITA Jiro). The intentions were classified into 3 categories; [Relationship to the wide-area environment], [Relationship to the vicinities], [Relationship between the inside and outside] (Fig. 1, 2).
Secondly, the perceptions about the specific characters premised on the scale of the large span buildings were also extracted and assessed from the text. It was divided into 2 classes; <Characteristic of the large space>, <Characteristic of the hugeness> (Fig. 3, 4). Then it was clarified that the intention of [Relationship between the inside and outside] corresponds with <Characteristic of the large space>.
Thirdly, the actual composition of the roof and supporting structure was examined, we recognize it as the representation of the relationship between the ground and large span buildings (Fig. 5). At this point, each representation was classified into 2 types; the integrated form connecting to the ground directly was "integrated", and the segmented form connecting to the ground indirectly was "segmented" (Fig. 6). “Integrated” was classified further into 2 types; “roof-wall type” and “wall type’. Then these were perceived that the representation of the building of the separation by the opening and the representation of the incidental volume to the building. And we examined the correspondence between those and the actual composition (Fig. 7-10).
Finally, the mediation between each architect's intention and the actual composition were considered (Fig. 11, 12).
As a result, the high relations in architect's thinking between architect's intention and the representation of the actual composition were found; [Relationship to the wide-area environment] more related to "integrated", and [Relationship to the vicinities], [Relationship to the wide-area environment] more related to "segmented ". Then we perceived two characteristic thoughts of architects. One is the building is placed as an integral object with the consideration of the relationship to the nature or urban environment, and the other is various representations of the roof with the consideration of the experience in inside and outside space deployed under the roof which is separated from the ground. From the above, the framework of the design theme on the relationship between the surroundings and large span buildings by contemporary Japanese architects was established.
