TOKYO. Solely by chance, some parts of Tokyo managed to survive the earthquakes and war bombings of the 20th century. These areas have not only retained their historical urban fabric, but also their communal behavior. However, because of their vulnerability to impending disasters, many of these areas also face the threat of an aggressive redevelopment, endangering their special character. This project suggests an alternate way of regenerating Tokyo’s old neighborhoods proposing an updated residential typology that focuses on preserving the unique communal behavior. In order to find a suitable area for the project, maps of areas damaged by the Big Kanto Earthquake and the bombings of World War II were superimposed with the map of the priority development areas appointed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. A further analysis of these areas revealed a clear distinction between west and east of Tokyo, reminiscent of the historical distinction between Yamanote and Shitamachi respectively. The latter part appears less developed thus retaining more of the historical urban fabric. Coincidently, due to the low-lying, fragile soil, the east of Tokyo is also projected to suffer more from natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunami. One such area is the neighborhood of Kyojima, Sumida-ku. After the Big Kanto Earthquake, the farmlands and canals of Kyojima was hurriedly urbanized, the area consequently retaining the patterns of its original infrastructure. When Kyojima again was spared during World War II, the neighborhood saw yet another influx of new residents, making it one of Tokyo’s densest areas. It now ranks as the neighborhood most prone to disaster in the event of a big earthquake. This project is located in one of Kyojima’s dense and vulnerable environments where small roads provide the setting for communal behavior.
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