Catherine Wheater Voices of Yanesen DS3

DS3 Voices of Yanesen Catherine Wheater Leeds School of Architecture Masters of Architcture Year 02 www.cathwheater.co.uk

Cinematic Films Portfolio https://vimeo.com/user10947354 www.cathwheater.co.uk

Cinematic commons | Yanesen

Yanesen, Tokyo My final Year Masters thesis is located in the sprawling Megacity of Tokyo. Through the following research I will document my exploration of the chosen sight area of Yanesen, and how research in to the contextual and social history of the area informed locating this area of the site in support of my ‘Voices of Yanesen’ architectural proposition. Voices of Yanesen is located in Bunkyo Ward, one of the central areas of Tokyo.

Cinematic Common | Intial Location Analysis Nippori Station Nippori Station is a major station interchange in central Tokyo located at the top of Yanesen. It connects the Kesei and Toei Line, alongside the East Japan Railway Company. The station currently has links to the major connection lines in tokyo, along with the skyrail to the airport so brings a lot of tourists and people from other parts of tokyo to the area. It is the main access point to the area of Yanesen with local people and tourist using it as a starting point to there discovery o the area.

Nippori Station

Yanesen Ginza

Ribbon Printing Factory Snake Street

Yanesen Ginza The area known as Yanesen Ginza has become the main area of the site with many of the ‘tourist’ cafes situated here. The site houses variations of cafes catering to tourist appetites alongside selling of souvernirs in the area. There is little in the way in a way of real engagement with the area. There is no information about the history of the area, this type of information rather is gained through speaking to the local people. It appears that engagement with the areas history is lacking.

Ribbon Printing Factory Site Whilst in Tokyo through speaking to the community at Yanesen Magazine I found out about the old printing factory (though there had be hints of this in my research before travel )which was removed 3 years ago. Located along the area of snake street the space has now become a car park. Given it’s proximity to Shinobazu street and the highrise that are beginning to shape this area, I see the sight as a key risk to large scale re-development.

Snake Street As you walk further along the road from the old printing factory, you will find the road narrows and becomes windy. This road is called Hebimich (snake street) by the locals due to its characteristic shape The road used to be the place of the Aizomegawa, a river that ran through the area and was used as a water source factories located along it’s route. The river was turned in to a culvert in mid the 20th century. It is said that their are 15 corners to Hebimichi.

Cinematic Common | Location of Yanesen

Shinobazu Street

Site Location 1:2000

Cinematic Common | Local History Analysis through the Foreign Gaze 3.

9.

8.

14.

12.

14

4.

11 14

9.

12.

8.

13.

7.

2.

1.

5.

6.

14

Cinematic Commons | Defining the Brief

Voices of Yanesen A new Commons in Local Memory Through my research into the local histories of Yanesen and the threat to the changing landscape; the developing design of the project integrates three key aspects in to the larger architectural strategy in preserving the areas locality. Through these key strategies the proposition outlines the integration of a new commons through local memory.

Key strategic moves are defined as unearthing the lost river of Aizan.

The river itself has become a memory to the people of the area, and the winding dynamic of of snake street is clearly defined by the architecture that is formed where the river once ran. The river will intially act as a move to create a barrier from re-development of Shinobazu street, as well as draw users down the site from the more popular area of Yanesen Ginza.

The role Yanesen Magazine played in cataloguing and preserving key moments of local history through the spoken, aswell as physical artefacts defines the next stage of the proposition. By using the unearthed river, the resource of Washi Paper will be developed along the sight and integrated in to a new production of memory in the ‘Memory Workshops.’ Here spaces are designed to encourage engagment with this process of cataloguing through the vernacular details.

The final space of the Memory Factory will act as the central hub for the area where larger meetings, political, and lectures spaces will take place. Alongside this the space will exhibit through it’s series of spaces the physical artefacts defined in the Yanesen physical catalogue and allow users to be a part of the excavation process in finding these new physical memories

Cinematic Commons | Exploration of Process

Through the set model I began to investigate the integration of the River, the neighbourhood and the situation of workshops along the uncovered river and their relation to one another.

Paper Production Sheet Layering & Press.

Material Collection & Workshops

Integration of the bleaching process into the river.

Cinematic Commons | Process Defining Space

The main space of the memory factory intially is outlined as being a space for the exhibition and storage of the physical artefacts wthin the area. Alongside this is acted as the main community space for conversation, lecture, and public discussion.

Space for the community to share their stories, how the vernacular can be used.

Defining the Programme When defining the architectural programme the development of the design came through understanding the key strategies I wished to apply to the sight. Key aspects were defined as the river, the process of space, inscription, artefact collection, conversation space and excavation. alongside this, the use of architectural details to define and be used to draw the user along, and to use the space for inscription and speaking

Integration of the drying of washi paper along the neighbourhood streets Printing and Inscription Workshops through written stories, local interviews and inscription of new materials

Process of Layering and pressing pulp for Mulberry production

Integration of the river as a move in the urban regeneration

Steaming and Harvesting of mulberry bark

Growth of the Mulberry tree in Grove

Cinematic Commons | Defining the Strategic Programme Washi Paper Factory The Washi Paper production Factory is developed to facilitate the production of Washi Paper Production.

As highlighted within my forensis, washi paper production requires a process in it’s development and these lead to the definition of the programme. The Key programme is outlined as: - Mulberry Grove for the plantation and harvesting of mulberry trees - Bark Harvesting, Steaming & Drying Areas - River to bleach and soften the bark

1:200

- Sheet Layering & Press facilities - Washi Paper Drying Area

Strategies In the development of this thesis project, the larger master plan site area was defined by applying the three key strategic applications researched within the DS3 Portfolio forensis studies. These are as follows -The integration of the unearthed River of Yanesen

Paper Production

-The development of Washi Paper production - The location and application of Vernacular details Programme This in turn developed in to three key site areas of programmatic development -Washi paper production factory(s) -Memory Workshops (s) -Memory Factory

Mulberry Grove

Defining the Strategic Programme Unearthing the River

Mulberry Harvesting

The new urban strategy for Yanesen develops with unearthing the lost river of Aizan. Through taking this step the river provides two resolutions highlighted within my research. Firstly the river acts as a tool for regeneration of the area, and will acts as a barrier to the potential redevelopment taking place along Shinobazu street that is beginning to effect Yanesen. Secondly it will draw users down the site from the current main tourist area of Yanesen Ginza. Once within users are drawn in to the area, the architectural strategy will entice the user along of route of local memory

Sheet Layering & Press

Paper Production

Yanesen Newsroom &

Integration of the Rive Story through collectionthe area of Yanesen Printing Press Workshop

Wall paper Workshop

Detailing Workshop

Memory Factory Memory Workshops

The Memory factory is developed as the key communal space for the Yanesen Area; a new hub for conversation and sharing of spoken, written & physical memory. The key programme is outlined as: -Exhibition space for physical artefacts highlighted in the Yanesen Catalogue -Archives to store collected objects and details from the area -Conversation Spaces for lectures and readings -Inscription space for users to write on paper in development of new memories.

- Private meeting Rooms for meetings of local activists, politicans in discussion of local issues (Additional Spaces for Inscribed Paper storage, collection, and delivery of artefacts)

Memory Factory

As production spaces the memory workshops are used to develop the resouce of Washi paper. They will be used in the cataloguing of local memories,; through the areas of collection for new stories, re-development of the Yanesen magazine in recording these memories, along with detailing, wall paper and printing workshops to develop inscription.

Alongside production , the design of the spaces integrates, existing and designed vernacular details that facilitate the activities taking place along this area. The integration of the programme and stratedy are defined in the programme as outlined : - Yanesen Magazine Newsroom as a local hub and network for the re-writing of stories from the area for wider distribution -Printing press to facilitate inscription on paper and wall paper -Shoji Detailing Workshop - Wall Paper Workshop

Cinematic Commons | Concept exploration

Memory Factory Initial Concept The initial development of the Memory Factory space came through defining the key programmes I wished to take place here, these both related to the encouragement of public conversation and the exhibition of physical artefacts from the neighbourhood.

Cinematic Common | Site definition through the Foreign Gaze