Jacob Cogley

救いの手 HELPING HAND Jacob Cogley Thesis 2020 Advisor: John Defazio

20,840

20,840 represents the number of lives lost due to suicide in the year 2018 in Japan. While this number, 20,840, put Japan on the list of countries with the highest suicide mortality rates, it is in fact the lowest Japan has seen within 30 years. Due to advancements in legislation since “the lost decade” (1990’s); passing laws to bring and spread awareness of suicide prevention across the country has been successful at lowering the number. However, with these new legislative moves, distribution of resources favors the densely populated cities while the more rural areas of Japan still suffers with the issue. In addition, these laws and regulations have not been successful at changing societies views towards mental health and suicide. A possible influence is Japan’s notorious history of suicide being an act of honor (Seppuku or Kamikaze) or even enlightenment (Sokushinbutsu).

APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 4 JAPANESE CITIZENS “SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SUICIDE” AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES

AROUND 70% OF SUICIDE VICTIMS ARE MALE

10000

My thesis proposes three sites, located in the prefecture Yamanshi, which during the year 2018, had the highest rates. Each site is designed to reflect on one aspect of (1)the past, (2) the present or (3) the future, and each have a strong connection to nature because of the importance natural beauty plays in Japanese society..

(1) A memorial in Aokigahara Forest (famously known as Suicide Forest) looks at the past to commemorate the lives taken to the forests reputation and act as a source of hope for those who may be seeking the forest. (2) Hanazono Hospital looks at the present to help the individuals who need the help the most. (3) The main campus, Oishi Park, looks towards the future by bringing the community together to shift societies views as well as help individuals through tough times with contemporary therapy practices.

Following the rules of Ikigai, a Japanese way of thinking.

My project integrates the 4 aspects into the design to create and atmosphere to pause, reflect, and grow as an individual and as a community. By showing love and appreciation through nature, finding skills through engagement, getting rewarded through reflection, and discovering what the world needs through growth, my project aims to achieve Ikigai, or a sense of well-being, to each individual who interacts with the site.

TOKYO

KOFU

FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO FUJIYOSHIDA

PROPERTIES OF YAMANASHI

SURROUNDING SITE CONTEXT

Yamanshi prefecture has a population of 820,000 and is directly West of Tokyo and contains the cities of Kofu and Fujiyoshida. My site is a 70,000 SF plot of land located on the northern shoreline of Lake Kawaguchi in the town Fujikawaguchiko, and currently acts as a tourist destination. The town is surrounded by a complex mountain range to the north and the lake to the south. Adjacent to my site is a parking lot that serves the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center and the Kawaguchiko Elementary School. Due to the lake, my site has an uninterrupted view towards Mt. Fuji, and with the strip of lavender plants along the waters edge, the site is an extremely relaxing and emotional experience from the natural beauty and the monumental icon of Japan.

VIEW FROM SITE

CURRENT SITE CONDITION

SITE PLAN

(A) SITE SECTOIN

(B) WEST BUILDING ELEVATIONS

(B) EAST BUILDING ELEVATIONS

The project is composed of 5 buildings, 2 destinations, and 3 landscape zones. To the south is an open lawn and extension of the lavender field from the Natural Living Center which provides and reproduces the uninterrupted view towards Mt. Fuji, the Western garden emulates a forest with densely packed vegetation and a textured topography, the Eastern garden contains a water element to imitate a stream. The 4 main structures are built on a platform to elevate them over the gardens. Each has a wood deck that creates an interior/exterior circulation path around and between buildings, as well as to allow vistas into the gardens or towards Mt. Fuji.

A BC

FOREST GARDEN (COMMUNITY)

STREAM GARDEN (PRIVATE)

Many natural elements surrounding my site inspired the systems for the project. Because of the lake and adjacency to Mt. Fuji, integrating geothermal energy into my project was rather simple. Using a lake and vertical loop, the site itself was able to produce enough energy to cover the heating and cooling loads for the 5 structures while also including an integrated floor heating and cooling system for the therapy reception building to allow patients to remove their shoes with comfort in these spaces. Also, because of the lake, the site itself had complete direct sunlight, which requited the design opportunity of having roof openings and overhangs to deal with sun exposure, yet allow for ample natural daylight to illuminate the interior volumes. Inspiration of these roof structures came from Kengo Kuma and traditional/ contemporary Japanese architecture.

GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM DIAGRAM

GALLERY SPACE FOR COMMUNITY ARTWORKS

The western half of the site contains the forest garden and program spaces for the community. The west most building is a typical auditorium space. The north western building has a flexible and smaller scale gathering space as well as smaller private spaces for community programs and activities to take place. The south western building is a cafe and dining center with an upstairs reflection roof garden looking towards Mt. Fuji. The overall concept of these buildings are to bring people together, reflect, relax, and grow. By engaging and bringing the community to this site, it is meant to address and bring change to the current views of mental health and wellness.

FOREST GARDEN (COMMUNITY)

ROOFTOP REFLECTION GARDEN

FACILITY RECEPTION SPACE

STREAM GARDEN (PRIVATE)

The buildings on the eastern side contain the facilities for the therapy center with the private stream garden. The north eastern building is the reception space and also has as a small open office for therapists to work in an engaging environment.

The building also acts as a frame into the private garden for general visitors to get a glimpse of what is inside. The south eastern building contains all the therapy rooms, with one large open group therapy space, two smaller group therapy rooms, and 10 private face-to-face therapy rooms. The small group therapy and face-to-face rooms all have direct views towards Mt. Fuji to create a relaxing and reflective atmosphere to allow discussions to happen more easily.

SMALL GROUP THERAPY ROOM VIEW OF MT. FUJI

Overall, feedback was positive towards the project and design concept. Having the three campus’ to address the different aspects of suicide and mental health helped articulate the meaning of this site in particular. The jurors felt the overall experience one would have on this site would be serene and relaxing. The overall design was seen to be contemporary-Japanese in aesthetic, but not a complete recreation of Japanese design. And the interior exterior experience was well thought out and emotional.

If I had more time (and frankly motivation during these difficult times) I would have liked to dive more into the details, and have spent less on the modeling. This also came in the form of a critique. It would have been helpful to show details like thermal analysis, seismic studies, sounds and materiality, flushed out topography, etc. I believe even the plans could have been flushed out more to have more detail to show the experience of each space. Jurors felt my projects concept was developed, but the architectural details and integration of systems were missing, and I wholeheartedly agree. However, I’m am happy with the end result as it stands now, and perhaps in the future I can come back and finish some of the missing elements from my final presentation. Thank you!