Study on the representational use of the “Namako-wall” and its expansion in Shimoda City, Shizuoka

Abstract

This study aims to examine the characteristics of the representational use of the “Namako-wall” and its expansion in Shimoda City, Shizuoka. We also attempted to clarify how, under the influence of tourism development, this particular design became an iconic object representing regional images. Through an on-site survey, we collected the representational use of the Namako-wall in architectural façades and street furniture, and clarified the difference between tourism representations and original designs. The results were as follows. 1) Sorting time-series changes, from the development of the townscape to recognition of their value as historical resources, it was clarified that Namako-wall began to be used as a design representing regionality from the 1980’s. 2) Through a field survey of the area where buildings with the Namako-wall design are located, the distribution of building close to historical resources was shown. It also confirmed its spread to areas that were subsequently developed through urbanization. 3)As designs symbolizing regional influences, there are at least two different types of use. The first type designs objects based on the authentic pattern. The second type extracts only the characteristic patterns of the Namako-wall and uses it as a design for architectural façades, pavements and so on.