This study examines the impact of residence and livelihood on urban space in Dharavi, home to a million people and 15,000 active factories. We found that individuals from across the nation both coexist and segregate to ensure safety, security, and the preservation of their livelihoods connected to their roots. They gather with people who share their place of origin and language while avoiding crowding. Our research also highlights how changes in people's livelihoods over time have resulted in shifts in community dynamics, governance, and urban spatial organization, ultimately changing the balance between coexistence and habitat segregation.

View full abstract

This study focuses on Community Asset Transfer, which is being promoted in the UK to delegate authority to communities to own and manage public assets, and examines the actual situation by organising policy trends, particularly from the perspective of project continuity. The case study of Calderdale, which has been working on CAT for the past 20 years, the utility of CAT as a strategy for creating long-term social value by strengthening community capacity, the value of local centres as community hubs, and the importance of national-local-community partnerships and human networks.

View full abstract

　Entering 1940’s, preparation business for industrial district becomes to be accelerated accommodating with military industries. Around Kyoung-In Area, giant industrial regions were planned with ‘Kyoung-In Streert Planning’ and Housing planning for labors. On the other hands, Kyoungseong Pref., Land readjustment project already advanced under Choseon Street Planning ordinance, newly gotstart Housing land development business, and the establishment of Housing Support Committee; 住宅対策委員会 in1939, let it speed up. In this study, we firstly examine housing projects in 1940’s, including the business of Choseon Housing Corporation established in 1941 subsequently to it, and clarify their reorganization or transition process.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the indoor humidity environment that prevents discomfort and disease due to dryness, in order to reduce the health risks of the elderly under low humidity conditions. Through questionnaire surveys, measurements in artificial climate chambers and fact-finding surveys, we identified issues related to maintaining and adjusting indoor humidity in homes inhabited by the elderly. Also, humidification was necessary because the indoor humidity in the home was currently low, but if the insulation and dew protection were insufficient, it was proposed to humidify to the extent that no condensation occurred.

View full abstract

This study focuses on the moving-out residents including the vacant house owner and the families outside as a member of society to clarify the present understanding of their activities, and their relationships with rural society. The findings suggest that: The ratio of their home-coming frequency and of their cultivation, are common to the cases in the rural areas. (ii) A many of them take home-comings as opportunities of recreational activities (iii) their relationship with rural society stipulates that they have social impacts on the population, spatial management, and social relationship. (iv)Around 10% of residents are moving-out residents in suburban area.

View full abstract

Considering the ‘Confusion’ of Vacant Property Owners There is an issue of ‘unoccupied vacant houses,’ which do not circulate as rental properties. In this practical project, we focused on the awareness of vacant property owners and collected the life histories of vacant houses. As a result, we discovered that understanding the life history of vacant hoses involves capturing the process of a family reaching a turning point, emphasizing the importance of documentation. With the premise of the ‘confusion’ of vacant house owners, we recognized the need to enhance a third option beyond ‘clearance’ and ‘utilization’ as a future challenge.

View full abstract

In the European market, tatami mats are made of real igusa and rice straw, and they would not buy new synthetic materials, which are mainstream in Japan. European customers are looking for natural materials for health and sustainability. They are also looking for tatami beds and shoji sliding doors for space-saving purposes because houses and flats in big cities are getting smaller and smaller. A quantitative survey with about 750 respondents, including 269 Japanese and 463 non-Japanese people, proves that what we heard from Japanese-style interior vendors and users in Barcelona, Spain, and other cities generally applies.

View full abstract

This study examines the improvement of the living environment in hilly residential areas in Nagasaki city by utilizing vacant houses and lands as “public hub space”. First, we extracted three spatial programs for public hub space: “disaster prevention,”　“transportation,” and “community assistance” from interviews and previous cases. We also clarified the appropriate spatial arrangement for each program through network analysis using GIS. Furthermore, by presenting case studies of converting vacant houses and lands into public hub space, we verified its utility and the issues toward its realization.

View full abstract

Sakihama Hamlet, Ohunato City, Iwate Prefecture was researched of its reconstruction process after Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Through fieldworks we found the big roles of commons spaces for mitigation of natural disaster by each steps of process from evacuation to reconstruction. The kouekikai, the community organization of Sakihama, updated traditional village society revealed its significant meaning functions for contemporary reconstruction process, more than the public organization.

View full abstract

Realization both of succession of traditional townscapes and lifestyle culture with healthy living. While efforts are being made to preserve traditional houses, Kyo-machiya, there are concerns about the risk of heat stroke in summer and the health effect due to cold indoor environment in winter. We conducted (1) a questionnaire about the life styles and demand on house renovations, (2) an indoor thermal environment measurement, and (3) a numerical analysis of the effectiveness of insulation renovation of Kyo-machiya. Though there were concerns about health risks, few residents were strongly dissatisfied with the heat/cold, and this did not lead to motivation for insulation renovation. We also showed some examples of insulation performance and power consumption that can create a healthy thermal environment.

View full abstract

This study attempted to find the critical point of health maintenance and aging in place among older adults in a hilly suburban detached residential area by means of a hearing survey and a three-year follow-up. Regarding frailty, it was found that women aged 80 and over maintained robust health. On the other hand, the critical point for aging in place was considered to exist among men who lived alone and those who were 85 years old or older. In addition, the vacant spaces in the entrance approaches and garages showed the adaptation to the physical environment by the dwellers themselves, and could contribute to the reconstruction of social capital, which is closely related to health maintenance.

View full abstract

After the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, about 25,000 disaster public housing units were added as stock, and collective housings were introduced. Long-term situation has been clarified by data analysis and qualitative surveys. As a result, it was revealed that the public housing stock was generally managed to normalize in about 30 years, and the use of cooperative space was polarized and the un-used environment was expanding. The role played by public housing at the long-term recovery is significant. This result suggested that residential space design that can be coordinated with the location and layout plan is necessary at the planning stage.

View full abstract

In cities, places for practical activities of people's commons are important local resources for building rich relationships between people and people, and between people and nature in urban residential environments. This study examines approaches to the restructuring of gathering and living environments through local commons from the perspective of “decomposition and circulation” in urban ecosystems. Focusing on the spatial resources of infrastructure built in modernization, this study examines and clarifies the indicators of “Niwa” design, in which these resources are decomposed and recycled as new “urban garden” and circulated, also from the perspectives of urban structure, geography, and urban ecology.

View full abstract

In this study, photocatalysts and metal ions, which are known to have antiviral properties, as well as common building finishing materials, were examined to obtain basic findings following the JIS R 1756 “Fine ceramics-Test method for antiviral properties of visible light responsive photocatalytic materials - Bacteriophage method using bacteriophage Qβ”. Furthermore, a comparative analysis was conducted with literature reported on COVID-19. The results showed that it is difficult to evaluate the performance of the phage test against actual viruses. They pointed out that the results of antiviral activity values may be better when the phage solution concentration does not meet JIS.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the actual activities of large-scale construction contractors by focusing on the complex relationships among designers, material traders, craftsmen, construction workers, products, parts, and others. Specifically, the study clarified the trends and differences in the selection of major craftsmen and suppliers in terms of structural type, region, and changes over time for houses and offices. In addition, the application of the SRC construction method, which was then on the rise, was examined in contrast to the steel construction method, and the organization of related craftsmen and tradesmen was also clarified.

View full abstract

Promoting understanding of housing with buffer territory by making a guidebook for its representation While housing according to the standard of building energy efficiency act is promoted by the ministry, Okinawa prefecture enacted alternative standard of climate adapted house, which is called housing with buffer territory. We made a research about effects and characteristics of housing with buffer territory and compiled “a guidebook for representation of house planning and design suitable for climate of Okinawa” which can be used for explanation according to the building energy efficiency act and utilized for understanding housing with buffer territory.

View full abstract

Records of Umbrella House Relocation Project This paper aims to clarify the issues faced by the actors involved in the overseas relocation of the Umbrella House. The conducted interviews revealed several difficulties that were summarized into four categories: Communication, Cost, Measurement Survey & Relocation Design, and Repair & Relocation. The issues were also divided according to whether they were specific to this project or related to the relocation of modern heritage houses in general. The knowledge acquired through this project is thought to be useful for the preservation and succession of modern heritage houses in the future.

View full abstract

Building solidarity in a ‘community-based living’ environment. The cooperative housing project “Tojuso” is gradually starting to be passed down to the next generation. Here, communities have been formed through self-managed association activities, fostering strong attachment among residents to their homes and a sense of self-governance. This project was aimed at establishing resident-to-resident connections. The project further expanded its scope to cover other cooperative residences considered to be “a residence that’s part of the community.” Researchers interviewed residents with the purpose of creating a venue for them to discuss how much they love their homes and compiled a booklet to widely release this content to the public.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the economic potential that high-performance detached houses are succeeded. For this purpose, we investigated the price of high-performance detached houses in Hokkaido based on willingness to pay when those stocks become existing houses. As a result, the price is estimated to be 43.7%～51.1% of the construction price of these stocks. If willingness to-pay and energy savings are regarded as benefits, succession of high-performance detached houses will make the price lower than the construction price of a non-high-performance detached houses. For this reason, high-performance detached houses have the economic potential to be succeeded.

View full abstract

Architectural renovation in Japan is being performed by an emerging class of self-taught craftspeople who are neither professionals nor casual DIYers. These “Third Actors” acquire their skills through various media sources and workshops. We interviewed ten of these individuals and their associated stakeholders in Japan, plus an additional two in the United States, to elucidate their activities and surrounding context. Our study reveals that these practitioners possess a diverse skill-set, encompassing wide range of building techniques as well as relationship-building, indicating their potential role within the construction industry and the local community.

View full abstract

This study investigated and developed a prototype of a viewing system in which onomatopoeia is superimposed on video images. In order to investigate the support goals and support possibilities for development of novice plasterers, the need for support for body movement instructions was analyzed from daily reports, and work stability as skill was analyzed by comparing the video images of expert and novice plasterers. A prototype of a viewing system was developed, and it was confirmed that viewing instructions were presented using onomatopoeia and as a result contributed to the learner's intuitive understanding of the skill movement.

View full abstract

This research aims to document the unique character of sea carpentry in southern Chile, which has preserved a unique art bridging boat and building construction, although it is threatened by the rapid changes in Chilean economy and society. Fieldwork was conducted over 7 days in the Bio-Bio and Chiloe Island in Los Lagos region of southern Chile, including interviews with sea carpenters and a survey of their workplaces. The results showed that these highly skilled craftsmen are still active, but their future is uncertain, mainly due to the gradual weakening of rural communities.

View full abstract

The objective of this study is to propose the seismic performance evaluation and seismic reinforcement for the development of a seismic countermeasure manual for Uchiko Town. First, four target buildings were selected, and their structural characteristics were determined. Next, three analytical models were constructed for each target building, and the load-deformation angle relationships were compared. In addition, a grid wall made of Uchiko wood was developed, and its seismic performance was verified by full-scale static loading tests. As a result, the seismic reinforcement simulations for four target buildings could be shown.

View full abstract

We conducted basic research of three districts on the Sanriku coast to consider how housing space and the narrative transmissions of recovery experience will change after the Great East Japan Earthquake. We analyzed the spatial structure, the characteristics of residential areas, categories of the houses and the correspondence between the narratives of four storytellers and the landscape.

View full abstract

To clarify measures to prevent heatstroke in the homes of the elderly, we carried out measurements of indoor environment and the physiological reactions of the elderly in homes, as well as subject experiments on the physiological reactions of the elderly in hot thermal environments. Measurements have shown that there is a relationship between indoor thermal environment and health. The operation of air conditioners to reduce the risk of heatstroke in occupied rooms has also been clarified. Experiments have shown that it is effective for elderly people to use bathing and exercise to hasten the completion of acclimatization to the heat.

View full abstract

In this study, we conducted the first complete decipherment and investigation of the diary of architect Takamasa Yosizaka during his study in France from 1950 to 1952. The vast amount of information in the diary was then organized to clarify the bibliographic information and material characteristics. Until now, much attention has been paid to Yosizaka’s period of study abroad as a student of architect Le Corbusier, but Yosizaka’s personal activities have not received much attention. Therefore, this study focuses on Yosizaka’s own activities and examines the universal view of living together formed during his study period and the human network centering on Yosizaka in France to clarify the impact of his study in France.

View full abstract

A series of surveys of Surakarta’s urban slum housings revealed significant issues with water and sewerage systems, along with prolonged indoor discomfort, posing comfort and heat stroke risks for residents. In addition, a questionnaire survey of 332 residents in newly constructed districts as part of an urban slum improvement program showed improvements in privacy and leak frequency. However, many residents reported hotter and less comfort indoor thermal condition and poorer air quality. Addressing these challenges involves optimizing design and planning processes to enhance indoor comfort within limited budgets and exploring cost-effective architectural solutions.

View full abstract

The application as chambers for heating, cooling, and ventilation in the crawl space with insulated foundation walls has also spreading. To examine these effects, the temperature and humidity, suspended microorganisms, and suspended particulates of three characteristic buildings were measured. In addition, a microbial growth model that necessary for integrated risk assessment method for microbial contamination. Although it is a closed mathematical model, it is needed to determine the spore viability rate that may germinate after spores are generated and dispersed, as well as the growth rate parameters for each fungal species.

View full abstract

This paper investigates the residential integration of Chinese immigrants in Tokyo, Japan, with an emphasis on residential mobility, housing tenure, and household composition. Using multichannel sequence analysis, we identify five residential mobility groups, predominantly influenced by housing tenure and household composition. A subsequent multinomial logit model reveals diverse determining factors for each mobility type. While our results offer partial support to existing theoretical frameworks concerning immigrant residential integration in a Japanese context, we emphasize the significant role of demographic heterogeneity in shaping diverse pathways to residential integration.

View full abstract

Exploring collective actors who take part in building production，through the　“affordable” construction practices. Due to the shortage of professional builders and the popularity of DIY，the interest in opening building production to a wide range of non-professionals is growing. In this practice，diversified participants have worked together autonomously，and have explored how to expand the affordable zone in a more difficult direction. As a result，it has been revealed that: 1) professionals and architects have played the role of “high-amateurs”，2) the value of decision making of non-professional actors has been prioritized，and 3) when the client participates，the range of innovations can expand and the fun of construction has become more apparent.

View full abstract

Promoting a small forestry industry based on the use of lumber. Various issues surrounding the forestry industry and timber utilization are piling up, including the slumping forestry industry, sluggish sales of domestically produced timber, and the resulting decline in the number of forestry workers. In recent years, attention has focused on the construction of medium- and large-scale non-residential wooden buildings, including the use of CLTs, and nationwide efforts are being made to increase the efficiency and scale of forestry and lumber production. On the other hand, traditional timber production areas such as Yoshino Forestry, where there are no CLT factories as in Nara Prefecture, have been unable to take advantage of this trend toward large-scale intensification, and how to effectively utilize local timber is one of the issues to be addressed. Therefore, the authors proposed as one of the solutions to this problem the conversion of school buildings to wood, with the aim of using not only decorative lumber but also residential lumber such as columns and beams.

View full abstract

Exploring a possibility of a network-oriented architecture from collective re-thatching In this practice, we will focus on thatch, which is a representative example of collective construction in the past and has been attracting more and more attention internationally as a recyclable natural material in recent years, by investigating the actual conditions in Denmark and Sweden, which are advanced countries of modern thatch, practicing collective re-thatching replacement in old private houses, investigating the actual conditions of thatch fields nationwide, and practicing redevelopment of thatch fields in fallow rice paddies. Through these studies, we will examine the issues, challenges, and possibilities, and present a vision of architecture in a degrowth society.

View full abstract

Remote support from expert accelerates DIY renovation of houses. Elderly couple received remote assistance from experts in conducting DIY ceiling insulation and floor leveling in their bedroom. Remote support at each stage of DIY, from investigation to planning, design, demolition, and construction, proved effective in alleviating DIYers' concerns, removing practical barriers, and raising standards. To enhance the effectiveness of remote support, experts should provide correct assistance at each stage. In the investigation phase, simplified residential environment assessment is essential, and its streamlining is a challenge for promoting DIY renovations.

View full abstract

Practical Study on the Versatility of Demountable House Components as Observed from Reassemble two wooden demountable houses into a single house with a courtyard. During the reconstruction of two demountable wooden houses, initially provided after the Great East Japan Earthquake, in Shizuoka's Ito City, a transformation into a permanent, single-story house with a central courtyard was pursued within the urban planning area. This process also assessed the potential for homeowner involvement, leveraging the adaptability of wooden assembled house components. About 63.9% of the existing components were repurposed successfully. Notably, a challenge emerged during reassembly within urban planning zones – the need for fireproof treatments for exterior walls and roofs. In response, the study recommended pre-designed panels incorporating fire-resistant materials like gypsum board, ensuring the future reusability of demountable wooden assembled houses.

View full abstract

Toward Smart decline in Old New-Town in Yamatedai, Ibaraki City The background of this practical study is the need for walkable designs to support the increasing number of older people in the Old New Town. This study aimed to examine effective walkable designs for older people, as in the case of Yamate-dai New Town. The walkable designs are a “health consultation” at the neighborhood center and a “community-led edible neighborhood project” to support walking from home to the mobility spot. The results clarified that the walkable designs significantly increased the number of steps by about 231.40 steps/day for older people.

View full abstract

Promote housing seismic retrofitting by spreading cost-effective seismic retrofitting proven techniques in Western Japan to the Tokyo metropolitan area. From a perspective of preserving human lives, the top priority in earthquake disaster preparedness is the seismic retrofitting of old wooden houses. However, despite the government setting numerical targets, the retrofitting of homes is not progressing at a sufficient pace. This practical initiative aims to spread cost-effective seismic retrofitting techniques for wooden houses, which have a proven track record in Western Japan, to the Tokyo metropolitan area and the eastern region. It involves organizing technical workshops in the Tokyo metropolitan area, known as the 'Master Class for Seismic Retrofitting of Wooden Houses,' to promote the seismic retrofitting of homes with high earthquake risks. Additionally, it aims to establish a foothold for promoting seismic retrofitting, following the example of Kochi, through the participation and revitalization of carpenters in seismic retrofitting projects, in the context of disaster reduction and community development.

View full abstract

Let’s assist the classroom layout memorization of blind children with voice-guided teaching materials! Visually impaired children newly enrolled in blind schools often face significant anxiety due to their unfamiliarity with classroom layouts. Without teacher assistance, they cannot go anywhere, adding to their stress. Therefore, ‘Voice-guided Tactile School Building Models’ and ‘Classroom Name Announcement System,’ enabling students to confirm room layouts through artificial voice, were developed to promote a sense of peacefulness and independent mobility. These systems were donated to 10 blind schools nationwide. This report discusses teaching material implementation and the educational effects.

View full abstract