Abstract
In recent years, there are several studies of the vertical differentiation of urban functions in Japanese cities. A few problems, however, still remain to be done in the methods in these studies. The auther attempted to refine these methodologies and to apply the refined method for the data obtained in Nagasaki City.
The study area is delimited reffering to the distribution of the land value. The derived area includes not only the CBD but also the whole built-up area of Nagasaki City. We investigated the buildings, which have six or more stories and have multi-functions. The total number of such buildings in the study area was 185.
In this study, we applied two types of minimun units to analyse the spatial patterns of the distribution of buildings. One of them is the grid system, in which each cell has about 300 meters by 500 meters area. The other one is the zoning system derived comparing the maximum land value. In this zoning system, whole area is divided to six zones, in terms of the levels of land value.
The results of the study are as follows:
1) The vertical differntiation of urban functions is patterned in a hemispheric form, as K. Suzuki (1979) has pointed out. This trend is more clearly shown in the results using six zoning systems comparing the results using grid system. Therefore, the vertical differentiation is most tacifly by the land value.
2) The distribution of urban function is similar to the one reported by Suzuki in higher land value area. That is, many urban core functions such as R1 (retail), R2 (amusement), S1 (personal services), S2 (servises for enterprises), O (office) and F (finance) exist at the lower floors; both urban core functions and outer area functions such as P (parking), I (residence) and X (others) exist at the upper floors. In lower land value areas, both urban core functions and outer area functions occupy the lower floors, only I (residence) occupies the upper floors. But in the lower floors of highest land value area, functional distribution is different from Suzuki's conclusion that is, there is only R1 (retail) function.
