Yuji Hirota application portfolio for UCL Bartlett, MA Architecture and Historic Urban Environments

Meiji University, Japan (MA), GPA: 3.52

Architecture and Urbanism Program, IAUD

Meiji University, Japan (BA), GPA: 2.86

Department of Architecture, Architecture and Building System Lab

Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2021

Selected in Mock-Up Exhibition out of 8 projects

Graduation Design

Runner-up

Building Stock Regeneration Competition

4th place

Charge:

・ Drew blueprints and hand sketched perspectives. Discussed conception of the preliminary desing with staff

・ Assisted 3D modeling and created physical model, as a cheif manager for organizing other staff.

Charge:

・Prepared physical and 3D model and discussed ideas to determine final design for housing, villa, and public construction projects.

・Wrote short reviews for the Japanese journal of architecture and repaired exterior walls; the project name is Nanatsubachi.

Patterns of Spatial Segregation

- Study on Bottom-Up Approach to Understand How Small

Differences in Individual Preference Influence Urban and Architectural Space -

/ Vray for Rhino / SketchUp / V-ray for Sketchup / AutoCAD / V-ray for Sketchup

Contents

Studio Works

[Living in "Urahaku" of the city] 5

-- Adaptation of the public construction to the society

[Contributor of Mediation]

-- Building stock regeneration

[Patterns of Segregation] 20

--Study on Bottom-Up Approach to Understand How Small Differences in Individual Preference Influence Urban and Architectural Space-

[KIT]

-- Refurbishment of the desk in the lab

[ Academic Final Project - BA ] Runner-Up Adaptation of Public Infrastructure to the society

Duration: April 2019 - January 2020

Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo

Supervisor: Prof. Kozo Kadowaki

LIVING IN "URAHAKU" OF THE CITY

The buildings replacement in short cycle seem to have disregarded the value of architecture itself; the average life span of a Japanese house is 26 years though British is 100 years; also, it made the human life at some places fragile. In this project, focusing on the drawbacks caused by such a circulation to the city, I proposed the permanent housing which hardly not to be eliminated from the society with each house incorporating the rhythm (the role of the infrastructure). As a result, this attempt will contribute to effective against protecting cultural conmmunities, environmental, and resources issues, but also being manifestation of how the significance of architecture can be survived even if the form was changed.

What is the rhythm?

It is inquisitive topic that urban landscape of Japan is renewed in short cycles, like four seasons. “TOKYO METABOLIZING” by Koh Kitayama, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, and Ryue Nishizawa, enjoyed that this resulted in continuous replacement by the collection of free-willed, free-standing architectural structures without a relation to surroundings. In addition, a system, based on the concept of metabolism or renewal proposed since 1960s, in which each building was built on a single lot, has been realized in modern society. Regarding such a state, authors expressed the key is the “the rhythm” and “time scale” of the city. Through reading the book, however, I wondered “the rhythm” of the city is not visual aspect nor by periodical substitution, but something exist behind, to which provide a backbone. It is definitely necessary to signify the city’s existence in each era for leading the direction on next generation. What “The rhythm” of the city is could be a part of theory of Tokyo. The approach by sociologist Henri Lefebvre in his experiment with “rhythmanalysis” and the insights from authors in the book have not defined “the rhythm” of the city. I found the key of this that is related to the functions of the infrastructure which is normally shaped as an object. In the end, I noticed that the circulation caused by modern construction process make the value of architecture itself and human life fragile.

[Toyko Metabolizing] inspired book

[Rapid building replacement in TOKYO]

Researching area -Shunjuku, Tokyo

Typology -the process of investigation

Urbanization

Development of commercial and created downtown.

Urban building law

Housing development in western Shinjuku

Enactment of Building Standards Act

Opened seibu-Sta. Shinjuku (eastern)

The Shinjuku City Comprehensive Development Plan Promotion Committee was established.

Shinjuku sub-centre project (eastern)

Revision of Building Standards Act

City Planning Act

Urban revitalisation and improvent plan

Square and street plan near Sta. Shinjuku

Changed areas

Relocation of Yodobashi water purification plant

Development of commercial area in western Shinjuku.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bldg was established

TOKYO Livingin"Urahaku" the city

Through using old maps, figured the area out where there may be remained of objects which has not been removed from the city for a long time.

St. Shinjuku western gate

③Nothern Shinjuku X XI XII XXI

Eastern Shunjuku XVII XXIII

XXII

IV V VII XXIV

XVIII

XVI XIX XX

VIII XV XXI

X XI XII XVI XVII XVIII XXII XXIII XXIV

VII

V

I II III IV VI

① ② ③ ④

IX XIV XIII

History in Shinjuku -finding target area

1800’s Formation of city Events

Opened Japan railway -Shinagawa linein Shinjuku

Proposal

There is a backside time, which is unused time period, in the inherent rhythm of the ten sampled constructions. By incorporating these time periods as part of the life-style of people's lives while fulfilling their original function, a dwelling that cannot be wiped out by society is completed. In other words, it is possible to guarantee sustainable dwellings and people's lives that can be adapted to any period of time, without external constraints. Human being has been encountering the paradigm shift not to waste materials by building up new building but focusing on pondering the potential and importance of the built environment with how we can re-use.

Inheritating the mobility and the colour cone, it is used as an envelope for protecting invasion and creating the place for storage of foods, items and furniture. Utilizing existing plants, enhancing an atmosphere inside.

tube pipe φ=48.6mm

column plate: basswood plywood t=24mm

roof polycarbonate rafters 45×45mm tube pipe =48.6mm

using the fence as a wall

Life with a Manhole

Using existing warm environment, users can stay longer than outside. Also, setting up an adequate floor space and preparing a rain gutter which protect from rain and dust from ground. It is difficult to get out once you entered this place.

Life with a Mailbox

This building plays a role of supervising car parking, and managing and transfering the letters to the others. Inhabitants are so hectic that It has two ways of working style, although they could gain a salary. They use this place as a foundation for living.

Life with a Bus Stop

This place enables people to stay with relaxing and feel the transition of seasonal trees. Recycing the sewage so that they can prepare the water for living. Simultaneously, they need to manage replacing timetable and green system.

Accepting the climate condition such as raining, it helps to save wate, guranteeing a part of the life. In the rainy season, it highly helpful for living. In the sunny day, it will change into the place where people stay to relax and refuge.

Inheriting the function of traffic pole and placing a space inside, it was able to accommodate people. Additionally, this place can be public space which activate a new form of public construction, which leads not to just regulation of walking

Life with a trash disposal area

Extending the existing structure of the light and using crane structure, the building can hold a space to accommodate people inside. In the space, there is translucent wall to inherit the function of light, but activities can be seen from outside.

Sleeping on the first floor to aim to grab obsolete materials and large furniture on the next day. It is necessay to open and close the door to response the rules.

Life with an Utility Pole J

Establishing the tight and high envelope along with existing periphery of guardrail, it is able to create the place where visiters can relax. Settlers use this place as a party venue, which basically involve in celebration or ceremony.

Extending the utility pole on the corner area, making a hole inside and using as kitchen or fireplace. RC wall helps to preserve spreding fire, which contribute to use it pleasantly. Also, surrounding green area will be utilized for cultivating vegetation including fruits and vegetables.

Making a fire

CONTRIBUTOR OF MEDIATION

[ Design Competition] Building Stock Regeneraion 4th place

Duration: Feburary - April 2019

Location: Meiji Univ. Ikuta Campus Building 4, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa

Team Members: Ryota Suzuki, Yuki Kikuchi, Mizuki Okawa, Yukako Komoto

Role in the project: Basic Design / Drawing / Graphic

Japan's population is about to decline due to a falling birthrate and aging population. Combined with the increasing sophistication of information technology and reforms in the way people work, it is said that there will be even greater demands for social retionalisation. Against this backdrop, building stock as a resource awaits opportunities to be utilized to meet new social demands. This circumstance is also true university campuses. New form of classrooms and laboratories are required to accommondate new forms of learning for the next era. Another challenge is to return an university's vitality to the surrounding area. Under such a background, this project is based on the continuous reflection and exploration of new forms of university and towns using existing buildings to derive a sustainable design and new way of life for both students and local people.

Current target school building has some drawbacks which disqualify the environment: closed, deteriorated, contaminated inside of building, separated buildings.

・As closed environemnt where there are few open spaces, making outsiders disattractive

・Aging building's conditions, passed over 50 years

・Difficulty of taking a fresh air since no ventilating equipments

・Weak relationships among students since laboratories of architecture has been isolated

1. Spliting four sections 2. Vertical lightweighting 3. Adding buttress

benefit Allowing for the passage of natural wind and light in the horizontal plane.

1. Gallery

Open Plaza

Gallery Square

Learning Common Space5. Street Square6. Materials Lab7.

Laboratory9. Drawing Studio10. Workshop11.

Environmental Planning : Greening on the south side

Eco-friendly

Greening the building envelope on the south side by hunging angles between buttrees and planters plced on top of them. This will help block out the strong sunlight and secure privacy for users. The greening of the 135m long building will have a significant impact on the surrounding environment and contribure to improving the environment in the campus.

Gaps between walls have a comfortable space which promote activity

Community

Management of the planters will be outsourced to the Faculty of Agriculture, which is located on the same site. This will create new relationships among students from other departments.

The exterior corridor activate an inteaction between people

side of entranceway

Actual flow lines used

Main flow lines in the original plan Students Neighbours

side of main gate

Zoning Plan of Functions

In an integrated school building, it is difficult to spatially separate functions between one can be opened and must be closed. By dividing the building, it was possible to clearly divide them and also separate public and private spaces. Therefore, it successfully enhanced the commodity of school.

I Gallery

Creating a corridor by hanging the floor over the seismic reinforcement flint

II Open Plaza

Creating the theatrical place by using difference in elevation

III Drawing room Wooden interior design updatd the existing dawn environment

[ Academic Final Project - MA ] Thesis

Duration: April - Feburary 2019

Location: Shibazono Housing Complex, Saitama

Supervisor: Prof. Junko Tamura / Masami Kobayashi

PATTERNS OF SEGREGATION

-Study on Bottom-Up Approach to Understand How Small Di erences in Individual Preference Influence Urban and Architectural space-

In recent years, the clustering of specific social groups by Spatial Segregation has significantly impacted the surrounding environment and urban space at the urban or neighborhood scale. Many countries have adopted a top-down approach to deal with the problem in response to this phenomenon, but this approach has little effect. This study aims to examine how urban architectural space can be changed by a bottom-up approach that understands individual preferences and the mechanism of segregation. To achieve this goal, we attempted two methods. (1) Macro-scale, to understand the factors and mechanisms of segregation using the ABM model of segregation and to examine the tendency of segregation utilizing the extended version of the model of segregation, and (2) Micro-scale, to understand what kind of terms make people feel preferable for space in the city and the spatial preferences of different ethnicities. As a result, we obtained three findings. (1) From the comparative study on segregation trends with the model of types of two, three, and four agents, the rate of segregation decreases while increasing types of agents. (2) From the extended version of the simulation, architectural agents can influence the phenomenon of segregation to some extent. (3) The necessary elements to establish a preferable space for people with different backgrounds are familiarity and novelty, which should be a good balance in the same space, despite the differences in the way they perceive space.

Keywords: Segregation, Top-down approach, Bottom-up approach, ABM model of segregation, Individual preference.

Top-down vs Bottom-up approach

Many of the measures taken against segregation so far have not worked well, known as top-down approaches within limits on the proportion of people of different ethnic groups who can live in a housing complex, creating an environment where people cannot form 100% of their own community. In addition, each dwelling is standardised. Bottom-up approach, however, arranging population balance more comfotably and encouraging to create own community, but not to be large cluster.

Inequality

Research conclusion on Macroscale -using the ABM model of segregation-

ABM model of segregation is derived from Schelling’s model of segregation4)5)6), which presents how multiple groups of people are separated to live by their individual incentives and how society and city will become as a whole. Mechanism and rule of model: if agent’s happiness rate was over (or equal) satisfaction level, agent stays on the field, or moves to surrounding vacant space, 7 by 7. The happiness rate refers a rate of number of similar agents. We verified the following themes using the ABM segregation model, which has been particularly used in a wide range of research on the segregation phenomenon.

(1) Understanding the factors of segregation through the model of segregation.

(2) How will the segregation trends be changed by increasing the agents such as types of 2, 3, and 4 within changing satisfaction level and density of agents.

(3) How will the segregation trends be changed with architectural agents, including philanthropic function. The results show

(1) The factors of segregation are related to not only the satisfaction level of each agent and the density of agents and the ratio of agents, or the ratio of the satisfaction level.

(2) As the surrounding population or races increase, the degree of segregation become less, but it may nit be possible to create preferable environment unless decreasing one’s satisfaction level, such as personal space.

(3) The architectural agents changed the segregation to some extent. The degree of segregation decreased around agents.

Fig.

Research conclusion on Microscale -Individual spatial cognition-

For individual preference in spatial cognition, the existence of a good balance between familiarity and novelty7)8) in the same space is necessary. That suggests the possibility of creating a space which can be perceived as desirable by different races and those are important elements of spatial mixing in terms of the perception of space. For studying on the housing plan in different races, Chinese, Bangladesh, and Africa, those have specific patterns. In China, all spaces connect with Si (inner social space) and So (outside social space).9) In Bangladesh, all inside rooms connect to Si. And also, there is no buffer zone to access to Si space. Bangladeshis need to share space with neighbors when the similar one live next to door.10) In Africa, instead of the above cases, all rooms connect with So space because they usually spend time on the outside.

1) Taku, F.: A Brief Note on Ethnic Segregation Studies: Implications for Empirical Research on Japan. Space, Society and Geographical Thought, Vol. 21, pp.15-27, 2018 (in Japanese)

2) Brown, L.A. and Chung, S. Y.: Spatial Segregation, segregation indices and the geographical perspective, Population, Space and Place Vol. 12, No.2, pp.125-143, 2006

3) Takashi, O.: Living in Shibazono housing complex: What will happen when half of the residents are foreigners, Akashi bookstore, Ltd. 2019 (in Japanese)

4) Schelling. T. C.: Dynamics Models of Segregation. Journal of Mathematical Sociology, Vol. 1, pp.143-186, 1971

5) Schelling. T. C.: Micromotives and Macrobehavior, Norton, 1978

6) Susumu, Y.: Modeling and Expanding Artificial Societies: Introduction to Multi-Agent Simulation with artisoc, KOZO KEIKAKU ENGINEERING Inc. 2007 (in Japanese)

7) Nasr, J. L.: Visual preferences in urban street scenes: A cross cultural comparison between Japan and United States, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Vol. 15, pp.79-93, 1984

8) Yang, B. and Brown, T. J.: A cross cultural comparison of preferences for landscape styles and landscape elements, Environment and Behavior, Vol. 24, pp.471-507, 1992

9) Zhang, D.: Classical Courtyard Houses of Beijing: Architecture as Cultural Artifact, Space and Communication. Vol. 1, No.1, pp.47-68, 2015

10) Islam, L. et al.: A study on the Settlement Morphology of Indigenous Khasi Community in Sylhet, Bangladesh, Vol. 22, pp.1-7, 2016

Fig. 1 The average Satisfaction rate

Fig. 2 The average Happiness rate

Fig. 3 Segregation trends by types four agents

Fig. 4 Comparison among types 2, 3, and 4 agents

Fig. 8 Typology of housing plans in China

Fig. 9 Typology of housing plan in Africa (Nigeria, Burkina Faso)

Fig. 10 Typology of housing plan in Bangladesh (Nigeria, Burkina Faso)

Fig. 11 Patterns of housing plan in three countries

Shibazono Danchi, Shibazono-cho, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, is located on the border between Kawaguchi City and Warabi City. In recent years, the population of Japanese residents has been declining in inverse proportion to the increase in the number of foreign residents.

The majority of the foreign residents are Chinese, who currently account for 60% of the total population of the housing estate, and the population is only increasing year by year.

Current problem & Proposal

One of the roots regarding concentrated Chinese residence is word of mouth, as well as the fact that almost all of the restaurants and shops in the complex are Chinese-owned Chinese restaurants and supermarkets are concentrated near the main entrances. To achieve bottom-up approach, we must implement managing population balance equally as much as possible by installing prefereable house plans.

Zoning

Design Strategy -housing unit plan

Design Strategy

Case 1 Introverted type of housing (applied segregation along X-Z axis)

Eg.) Rule by housing plan in Bangladesh: stop the way common space for Bangladesh people

Section diagram of Case1

[ Design Project ] Refurbishment of the desk in the lab

Duration: July - September 2019

Location: Meiji Univ. Ikuta Campus Building 4, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa

Team Members: Architecture and Building System Lab in 2019

Role in the project: Basic Design / Drawing / Construction

Increasing the members in the lab compared to last year, it was emergency to design a more spacious desk and required flexible use. Since then, we considered a free-access design which is not determined whose space is there by deleting desk leg, and introducing flat wide and long length board. But, structural design was the most problematic to complete design.

Used by the members in a day

Built up the structure

“No enough desk to sit”

[ Field Survey ] Traditional Architecture Survey

Duration: 19th - 25th October 2019

Research Theme: Building form of "DECEPTION" among three Japanese Traditional Architecture

[ StudioB - MA ] The Mark

Duration: October - December 2021

Discussion

2-1 Historical style following the 'deception'

A.B. architecture is thought to have been built according to the style of the Kamakura period. In this period, Japanese-style architecture became the mainstream, and temple buildings from the Heian period are typical examples. Characteristics include the use of long posts instead of fixed pillars and the construction of veranda. Also, there is no ceiling, the rafters and attic are visible, and a method known as nuki is used. In addition, the planning of the outer sanctuary composition was extremely ambitious at the time. A. was in a particularly important position when considering the development process of the outbuildings, B. also has a lined hall style with two roofs and the configuration of not having the Buddhist world and the human world together. This form is applied to 'deception'; foe example, in A., the form is used to emphasise the independence of space, while in B., the form used as a way of distinguishing space, and C. seems to have a form that is independent of the other tea rooms on the site.

[ Inspired Book / Project ]

Duration: August - December 2022

"Interventions and Adaptive Reuse"

Favorite project:

Allopatric Adaptive Reuse and Secondary Narratives of HUIZHOU ANCIENT DWELLINGS

[ StudioC - MA ] Rescaling Planning -design on Public square utilizing "architectural scale"-

Duration: April - July 2022

[ Design Competition ] Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2021 Selected in Exhibition

Duration: October 2020 - January 2021

[ Urban Design StudioB - BA ] TCDC (Tokyo Creative Design Center)

Duration: September - December 2018

A. Choukyu Temple B. Chouju Temple C. Kodai Temple

Location: 4445, Joumachi, Ikukoma city, Nara

Type: Shrine

Date: Koan era

Location: 1-11, 5-Amazu temple, Konan city, Shiga

Type: Shrine

Date: Early 13 century

Location: 526 Banchi, Kodai-ji Kawara-cho Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

Type: Shrine, Tea house

Date: 1605

"Timber Adaptive Reuse Theater" Designed by CO Adaptive Architecture

Selection reason: Reconsidering built environment's embeded carbon footprints efficiently.