研究について
about Reserch
■ Outline of Studies
There are many diverse aspects in architectural and urban space. If they are regarded as the hybridization of various orders, by clarifying the various aspects of space one by one, it is possible to create a methodology for decoding them. Consequently, by viewing these aspects from various perspectives it becomes possible to understand the multiple layers of the city.
I have been looking at the spatial forms and structures in built environments such as cities and buildings, and developing descriptive theories and techniques, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to denote logic in architecture and urban space, paying particular attention to morphology and geometry. In addition, by applying the results of research to actual built forms and urban designs, several new spatial models are being proposed.
My research activities are currently focused on the following three major areas:
1. Development of Mathematical Techniques for the Analysis of Architectural and Urban Space
(1) Morphological Analysis of Urban Space Compositions
Morphological characteristics are described through the mathematical indices, with a focus on the analysis of city blocks, urban facilities, built forms, roads, intersections and open or vacant space.
(2) Analysis Techniques Using Computational Geometry
Facility allocation and optimal partitioning are applied when dealing with such subjects as distribution pattern models of urban facilities; the problems of the probability distribution of nearest neighborhood distance from urban facilities; Voronoi diagram problems; and geographical optimization problems.
(3) Techniques for Comprehending Streetscape and Landscape
By systematizing techniques for comprehending streetscape through the quotation of semiotics, artificial intelligence, and digital image processing, a network of similarity and differentiation of streetscapes can be delineated.
(4) Analysis of Quantity of Flows and Paths in Urban Space
2. Field Research of Dwelling Forms
(1) Morphological Field Studies of Traditional Villages and Houses Throughout the World
(2) Analysis of Townscapes of Japanese Traditional Houses
3. Architecture and Urban Space Design
The design of actual projects such as super high-rise buildings, facilities of research institute, elementary schools, factories, collective housing, etc.
■ Content of Studies
My personal area of specialty is architecture and urban planning. At my laboratory, we focus upon the range of space-related phenomena that occur in built environments, at the levels of the region, city or building, in order to develop methods and theories for use in evaluating, analyzing, and describing the characteristics of spatial structures from a morphological and geometric point of view.
By taking and superimposing cross-sections of space-related phenomena, we endeavor to provide tools for expressing, solving and forecasting those phenomena in built environments in an objective way. We are also studying techniques for the application of the knowledge gained using the various methods developed so far, in order to apply that knowledge to the environmental space planning of the future.
Our actual studies cover a wide range of built environments, from housing and other single structures to villages, towns, cities and regions. Although the study methods that we have used in the past have mostly been concerned with mathematical morphology and quantitative geometry, we have also been trying to incorporate methods from the humanities, such as those of linguistics, semiotics, cultural anthropology and ethnology, as well as methods used in operations research, mathematical ecology and metric geography, combining all of these to develop techniques that are both as objective and as applicable for general use as possible.
The content of our studies so far consists of the following:
A. Analysis of building and urban space structures
A-1. Morphological studies of traditional housing, villages and cities of the world
We have been conducting continuous studies on site of traditional villages outside Japan for over fifteen years, in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, South America, Africa, Yemen, etc. Using floor plans or site plans of housing that we have measured ourselves, we have made comparisons of the relationship between space structures and natural and social environmental conditions for use in demonstrative studies on the characteristics of housing cultures from the perspectives of the morphological characteristics of housing arrangement, the relationship between materials and the natural features of the region, the structural significance of space, changes in the forms of housing due to modernization, methods of space formation unique to each location or ethnic group, etc.
A -2. Quantitative Analyses of Urban Landscapes and Streets
We have been conducting surveys of traditional streets and contemporary street scenes that still remain in various parts of Japan, to determine the rules of arrangement and significance of the elements that make up the scene, while at the same time striving to make quantitative analyses of the complexity and variety of that scenery. In recent years, we have been looking at comparatively "macro" landscapes, in order to propose methods of quantitative evaluation that use the number of buildings or visible areas.
A -3. Morphological Analysis of Building and Urban Spaces
We have focused attention on the morphological elements that form building and urban spaces, to develop numerical indices for recording space characteristics, and applied these to actual phenomena. We have proposed methods for extracting the characteristics of networks, methods using graph theory, relative yardsticks for facilities intended for other uses, means to identify patterns of arrangement of urban facilities, methods to estimate distance to the next building, and the calculation of three-dimensional yardsticks for the density of building distribution.
A -4. Quantity of Flows and Paths in Urban Spaces and Understanding the Time and Space of Movement Volumes
To capture the dynamic aspects of cities, we have made numerical studies of traffic phenomena that accompany the movement of people, vehicles, etc. We have proposed metrical geometric models for cross-sections of movement volumes, and patterns of movement routes, and applied these to such items as routes that elementary school students use to go to school, and evaluation of unification and concentration both within and without the region based on OD studies.
B. Methodologies of Building and Urban Planning
B-1. Facility Allocation and Optimal Partitioning Models
We have chosen the issues of the optimal allocation of public facilities and optimal partitioning models with distributed facilities.
In regional analysis, the Voronoi diagram is well known as one of the most fundamental models dividing the field into domains. As a development of this diagram, we introduced a method of dividing a given field with distributed facilities into several domains, and proposed new geometric models considering both the capacity of facilities and the population density. As an application of these models, we analyzed the arrangement of the places of refuge in Tokyo.
Many problems in two-dimensional location analysis can be formulated as optimally dividing a given region into several sub-regions. We dealt with two partitioning problems; one of them is to minimize the sum of Euclidean distances under the condition that the capacities of each facility are restricted, and the other one is to minimize the maximum distances between existing facilities and fixed demand locations assigned to them. These Optimal partitioning models were applied to the evaluation of the appropriateness of elementary school catchment zones.
B-2. Architectural and urban design
We have been putting the results of our studies to practical use at every opportunity in real building, city and regional planning.
We have worked on actual designs for individual and collective housing, office and commercial buildings, factories, schools, research facilities, etc., as well as drawing up master plans for cities, towns and villages, and drawing up redevelopment plans for cities and streets.
We have also taken part in design competitions, utilizing the results of our studies in actual building, city and regional planning.
C. The Development of Methods for Architectural and Urban Space Information
Processing techniques for architectural and urban space Information are essential for measuring and depicting space-related analysis and plannings. We have been placing special emphasis upon the computer processing of shapes, with the development of computational geometry methods.
We have sought to devise effective algorithms using ordinary image processing and space data processing techniques with reference to such factors as population, land prices, geographical features and networks, and have also studied ways to depict the density distribution of urban facilities and building arrangements using contours.
We are seeking the most appropriate geographical situations for the facility allocation, the largest empty circle that can be applied in the analysis of open space, the shortest path on road network, polygonal diagrams of parallel closed lines, covered and overlapping areas, measurements of the distribution of shortest distances between urban facilities and users, shape indices of cities or streets, measurements of solid angles as indices of the openness of interiors or streets, etc.
■ Future Plans
(1) Systematizing Methods for the Formation of Residential Space
In the case of traditional villages and housing, it is possible to see how unique spaces have been formed in adaptation to complex and subtle differences of environmental conditions. These are replete with items of wisdom that can be applied in contemporary architectural and urban design. With respect to the study of planning methods for housing environments of the future, we wish to sort such space formation methods in a systematic way, including with reference to social and cultural perspectives, and co-operate with other researchers to build up a data base of housing space formation methods.
(2) The Development of Architectural and Urban Space Analysis Methods
We have mainly developed methods of mathematical analysis based on the physical elements that make up the architectural and urban spaces. In order to better understand and create environments, however, I believe that we need to consider not just the geometrical characteristics of spaces but also their significance and effects, in order to develop methods that appropriately embody both the relationship between the elements that compose the space and the awareness or actions of the people who inhabit it.
(3) Proposing New Architectural and Urban Space Models
One of the ultimate goals of our studies is the creation of more desirable environments. Architectural and urban spaces are expressions of culture, rooted in the spirit of their times and the characteristics of each region. In the field of architectural studies, too, there will be demand for the proposal of new models of space design for the twenty-first century.
The paradigms of city theory are changing greatly, from homogeneity to diversity, from the promotion to the control of growth, and from an emphasis on efficiency to one on culture instead. We believe that in urban planning from now, constellation type space models that combine various micro-reforms in actual cities will become increasingly important, as opposed to large-scale clearance projects. This could be dubbed the "new compact city". We would like to propose this as the urban space model that conforms with cultural needs.
■ Message from the Teacher
Study of the traditional housing and villages of the world teaches us the diversity of human lifestyles. The wave of modernization that has been engulfing us everywhere has been reducing those regional differences in housing form. This trend is not confined only to housing but is found in urban landscapes as well. There is a clear switch from variety to conformity and this should be regarded as a major environmental issue. In the same way that biological diversity is important, I believe that the cultural diversity of human society needs to be maintained.
I am seeking to grasp social and cultural issues through the form of built environments. If forms or shapes interest you, too, then please come and join us in our research activities.