A Case Study on Urban Open Space from the Viewpoint of Slow Space in Chiba City

Abstract

This study aimed at analyzing urban open space from the view point of "Slow Space" which was introduced by Bell & Leong in their architectural review. At the first, this study has extended the definition of "Slow Space" according to the past philosophical ideas about "Time", "Space" and "Human Existence". It revealed the importance to see the urban open space from this definition to revive the subjectivity of human beings to the environment. From the case study of the research by questionnaires, interviews and workshops in Chiba-city, some characteristics of "Slow Space" were found: such as natural open spaces, waste land, declined shopping street, topology of redevelopment project, etc. Residents are passive to those environmental change but they may revive their subjectivity to those open space (Slow Space) reminding their mental temporality from some remaining parts of those spaces and their memories accompanied with an effect of dramaturgy.