TOKYO’S STREET ARCADE By Justin Wallace, Urban Designer + Architect
STREET: ARCADE Perhaps the most important observation of the Japanese arcade is that it is physically distinguishable from the surrounding buildings. In aerial view above the chome, one can observe a network of arcades which appears to hover and meander with the pathways beneath it. This separation is also evident upon walking through the arcades and making several observations. First, the column spacing is not a fixed spacing as one might think. Rather than having set column spacing, the centerlines of the columns align loosely in between buildings or at corners of intersections so that they do not obstruct the ebb and flow of shop fronts. Second, the canopies attach loosely like a tissue in many locations to the fronts of building facades. Attached with screws, metal angles, and vinyl siding, the connections from the arcade structure are at times haphazardly constructed Japanese Arcade
The commercial street scene as observed in one of Tokyo’s oldest intact neighborhood districts immediately heightens the senses. A hive of activity is laid out on either side of the street wrapping passers-by into a blanket of sensory overload: fish cadavers on skewers circle an open flame lining a vendor’s booth selling for 500 yen each; translucent crimson-colored lanterns light up a table waiting for diners; dangling vines and flower plants spill out into the pedestrian way competing for a buyers eye; signs hang like appendages from buildings in many
depending on the conditions of attachment. Seen from above, the arcades not only protect from the harsh sun and weather and diffuse natural light, but the arcades function as a continuous conduit for electrical wires, catwalks, etc. some thirty feet in the air. Therefore, the arcades provide a second realm above the street that is both occupiable and restricted – like a linear roof top extrusion. Since the arcades are detached from individual buildings, it may be argued that the Japanese arcade serves an urban function at many different locations throughout the chome. But what specifically is that function?
different heights, colors, and scales as advertisements scream of the latest sale. Above the street scene within the Tokyo chome, there is one particular element that keeps it well intact - the Arcade.
In one single chome, there are multiple buildingarcade configurations. One instance is entirely consumed within the interior of the chome. The
Asakusa Chome
buildings and arcade appear almost symbiotic as if
A second configuration of the arcade begins at the
constructed at the same moment in time. In rigid
edge of the chome, its entrance aligning with an
form, the arcade extends a length of 18 buildings,
intersection at a major street. It then extends inward
and the buildings – two to three stories in height and
crossing several internal streets. In this instance, the
one room deep – line up side by side facing inward
buildings on either side of the arcade appear to be
toward the arcade, like cows feeding from a trough.
existing buildings while the arcade appears to be
Every sixth store front, a short passage way breaks
constructed separately like a tissue tying organic
the row of buildings to allow a cross flow of people,
urban blocks together. Buildings along the arcade
sunlight, and air into the arcade.
tissues are anywhere from 2 – 5 stories with the first
and second story exposed inward toward the arcade.
the street below it and may even “jump” over smaller
In the rear of the buildings is a small alley way or
streets or “break” for larger or more dominant streets.
walk way where a service entry or back door is found.
At the conclusion of the corridor is another multistory shopping complex known as the Rox. The
Individually, each arcade configuration is unique
combination of building frontages along the corridor
to its column spacing, structure, height, length,
in addition to the canopy extrusion overhead make
and aesthetic. At certain instances, two arcades
for a linear and restricted pedestrian experience of
will intersect and at this point a large egg-shaped
commercially-oriented shops and restaurants and
translucent dome rests above the intersection.
vendors.
However, each arcade does function urbanistically as an organizing element within the chome. A closer
In the North-South direction, another pedestrian
look at the arcades as a whole reveals an internal
and commercially-oriented arcade corridor stretches
organization of pedestrian-oriented corridors cutting
from one side of the chome to the other. On one
and intersecting the blocks within the chome. In
end, it links the Edo Shitamachi Traditional Crafts
the third arcarde example, the corridor begins at a
Museum to a large street called Broadway lined with
crosswalk across from the seven story Matsuya retail
a row of entertainment ranging from bowling alleys
store. The arcade then extrudes past a series of small
to cinemas to batting ranges. On the south end, the
blocks and streets within the chome. The extruding
arcade crisscrosses with the east-west corridor and
body of the arcade continues to hover in parallel with
terminates at a major street crosswalk.
An interesting phenomenon that occurs under the
understood in the past year with the construction of
open arcade is that it aids in reinforcing a perspectival
the Tokyo Sky Tree, a 2,080-foot tall communication
vantage point for the consumer. This is constructed
tower opened to the public in May of 2012. Although
through the geometry of adding a fourth plane
located in a neighboring district across the waterway,
(canopy) over the viewer’s head while walking on a
the scale and soaring height of the tower make it
flat street with two walls of buildings on either side.
noticeable from miles away. Pedestrians throughout
By adding a fourth plane, the verticalness of buildings
the chome walking on various streets, alleyways, or
above the street is cut o from the pedestrian viewer,
passageways, instinctively turn their head upward to
therefore lowering the line of sight to only two
meet the tower with its sparkling lights and splashing
stories. This constricted frame of view creates a more
colors. The same experience occurs on the next street,
horizontal viewing experience and of course works
where eyes reel up to meet the same glittering bauble
in favor of the shop owners competing at the ground
in the skyline. Almost immediately, eyes are drawn
level to sell their products. Thus, it can be stated that
away from the coziness of the street in front of them
the arcade can be associated with the reinforcement
– the umbrellas and hats of pedestrians crisscrossing
and containment of activity below its canopy.
in front, the scattered arrangement of bookended buildings on either side of the street, and the array
In terms of the urban realm, the creation of a forced
of products overflowing in the periphery beneath.
perspective begets another phenomenon as well,
It becomes clear that the arcade physically conceals
which could arguably be only experienced and
what is occurring above it - the dynamics of the skyline - but ideally maintains an order by keeping our eyes level with the activity in front of us - mainly where pedestrians walk, peruse each store front, enter a shop or two, or perhaps sit in a restaurant. The arcades holistically organize the commercial corridors within the block.
End Notes 1. Chome is a district (sometimes several blocks) and part of the Japanese addressing system. A chome is larger than ban (smaller blocks) and go (building). References: Shelton, Barrie (1999). Learning from the Japanese City: West meets East in Urban Design. (2005). E-Library: Taylor & Francis.