Development of the Esplanade by Kunio Maekawa

Abstract

″Esplanade″ is one of the names related to outdoor spaces that Kunio Maekawa (1905–1986) used in his late architectonics design activities. This paper examines how Kunio Maekawa applied the structure of outdoor space in Western Europe to Japanese architecture by studying all esplanades and analyzing the differences between and similarities to his original design, Place du Carrousel. First, he organized outlines of the esplanade, and then analyzed the differences from and similarities with Place du Carrousel. In addition, he compared five different esplanades as objects of study. This made Kunio Maekawa′s technique for an esplanade clear. As a result, he was receptive to composing enclosed spaces that still relate to their surrounding environment. In other words, he has substituted Western plazas in Japan by planning esplanades from the viewpoint of city planning.