the loss of the Kyomachiya

loss in numbers

As mentioned before, the historic townscape of Kyoto is first of all slowly vanishing due to the number of Kyomachiya that has rapidly diminished in the past decades. There are four main causes which can be linked to this decrease:

1. The late consideration for protection of the Kyomachiya: the traditional townhouse only gained recognition as important cultural heritage in the 1990’s. 2. Changes in urban policies and architecture laws: laws making it almost impossible to build these Kyomachiya in a traditional manner due to new fire safety and earthquake regulations. 3. Changes in family structure: townhouses became too big for one family, which shifted from around five family members to only two members. 4. The rise of property taxes: many Kyomachiya stayed unoccupied or were sold to new high rise developments because of a too large property cost.

As a consequence, there is a great decline of the traditional Kyomachiya architecture leading to the loss of the urban identity of Kyoto.*

* (World Bank Group et al., 2018) *(Fabian, 2013)

1948 1961

1974 2000

fig 19. change in numbers of traditional Kyomachiya in Nakagyoku and Shimogyoku, Kyomachiya’s drawn in blue Chapter 2: main consequence of urban renewal - the vanishing of the traditional townscape

fig 20. Muromachi Anekoji sagaru in 1931

fig 21. Muromachi Anekoji sagaru in 1986 Chapter 2: main consequence of urban renewal - the vanishing of the traditional townscape

loss of the identity

The second cause of the vanishing of the historic townscape is due to the loss of the identity of the Kyomachiya. The mixed use of working and living of the house is generally lost. Most new developments use the structure for either only commercial purposes or only living purposes. The idea of public, private, formal and informal functions is therefore lost.

By separating the work - life relationship, the streets are less lively towards the evening. Changing the mixed use function to a single use building also creates a loss of traditional social interaction between locals. Additionally, famous international brands taking over infrastructures are a downfall for small, local shops, who can no longer compete.*

*(Miyake, 2011)

fig 22. clothing shop in a traditional Kyomachiya © ISSEY MIYAKE INC. Photo: Masaya Yoshimura, Copist Chapter 2: main consequence of urban renewal - the vanishing of the traditional townscape