Culture, Behavior, and Space: Contemporary Socio-Spatial Issues in Tokyo
Through panel discussions, lectures, and workshops, we will attempt to identify current social trends in Tokyo and examine how they manifest in the city’s urban fabric. This symposium will provide a platform for a collective conversation among participating researchers and invited guests. Among other questions, we will ask what unique processes the city is currently undergoing, what social changes we can observe and what triggers them. We will also ask where these are taking place and in what form. The proceedings and conclusions of this event will be used to shape a common narrative for the research project as a whole by identifying common themes between the individual
research topics.
Participants include (tentative):
Harvard University (Reischauer Institute)
- Mark Mulligan (GSD)
- Teddy Kofman (GSD)
Meiji University
- Masami Kobayashi (Director)
- Manuel Tardits
- Davisi Boontharm
- Hiroyuki Sasaki
Keio University
- Darko Radović
University of Tokyo
- Shunya Yoshimi
Prospects and Implications: Future scenarios, Tokyo 2020
November 2019, Interim Symposium at Meiji University
Building on previous year’s discussion and researchers’ individual progress, this symposium will
focus on contemplating scenarios for the future of the city. The conversations will attempt to identify
potential future scenarios and influences, both spatial and social, as a knowledge base and a
reference for future decision makers. Based on the findings to date, we will ask what lessons can be
learned from each of the projects, whether an action is required, and if so, what it should be.
Profile
Masami Kobayashi
Masami is an active practitioner & teaching scholar, whose major is architectural and urban design. He pursues the new strategy for the community revitalization in local small cities in Japan with “Charrette Workshop” method. His professional design works have dealt with many private and public projects in Shimokitazawa (Tokyo), Takahashi city (Okayama prefecture) and Himeji city (Hyogo prefecture).
Ph.D. at University of Tokyo (1989)/Master in Design Studies at Graduate School of Design, Harvard University (1989)/Master of Architecture at University of Tokyo (1979) /Bachelor of Architecture at University of Tokyo (1977)
Executive Vice President of Meiji University (2016-) / Professor of Meiji University (2003-) / Visiting Scholar of University of California, Berkeley (2007-08)/ Visiting Professor of GSD Harvard University (2001-02)/ Kenzo Tange and URTEC (1979-1985) / Principal of Archi-Media Architects & Associates (1979-)
Given Awards were “2015 Good Design Special Award” for the “Himeji Station Front North Plaza Project”, “2013 Educational Award of Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ)”, “2007 Project Award of Architectural Institute of Japan(AIJ)” for “Preservation & Restoration of International House of Japan”
Teddy Kofman
Teddy is an architect and urban designer whose professional and academic work engages with issues of urban transformation at a regional and urban scale and data driven spatial analysis. Focusing on institutions, performing arts and exhibition spaces, Teddy has designed both independently and at various practices in New York and Tel Aviv, and his work was exhibited nationally and internationally, most recently at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York. He taught design studios at Pratt Institute and The Cooper Union in New York and received several awards for his work including the RSA-USA design awards, The Cooper Mack fellowship, Allen N. Golfischer award and The Harvard Graduate School of Design Deans Merit award. He graduated with honors from the Master in Architecture and Urban Design program at Harvard University and from The Cooper Union School of Architecture. Prior to this he studied at the David Azrieli School of Architecture in Tel Aviv.
Manuel Tardits
Manuel Tardits, was born in Paris in 1959; Study of sculpture of the Ecole des Beaux Arts; Study of architecture in UPA 1 France; Master of Engineering from the University of Tokyo under the supervision of Fumihiko Maki; Co-fonder of architect office Mikan; Non-tenured professor at Meiji University.
His office has received numerous prizes including Holcim Awards, Acknowledgement prize, Asia-Pacific, for the Centre of the French School of Far East in Kyoto (EFEO) in 2014 and Best Work Prize of the Architectural Institute of Japan 2016 for the Renovation of Manseibashi Station in Tokyo.
He is also the author of many books including Danchi Saisei Keikaku / Save the danchi (and al.), L’archipel de la maison/The Archipelago of House (and al.), Tôkyô, Portraits and Fictions and more recently a book of novels Le dit des cigales / Tale of the Cicadas.
Davisi Boontharm
Davisi is an academic in the field of architecture and urban design from Meiji University, Tokyo, International Program in Architecture and Urban Design. Her international careers stretch from France, via Thailand, Singapore and Australia, to Japan. Davisi’s research and teaching field is interdisciplinary and cross-cultural, with strong emphasis on environmental and cultural sustainability. Her research interests focus on resource approach to urban requalification and creative milieu. She has published several research books and a number of academic papers. Her passion for cities also finds its expression in creative work. She has exhibited her drawings and paintings in Japan, Croatia and Italy.
Hiroyuki Sasaki
Hiroyuki Sasaki is Associate Professor of Department of Architecture at Meiji University. He is also Principal of Freedman Tung + Sasaki (FTS) Urban Design, Tokyo Office. Sasaki received a Ph.D. in design engineering from Kobe Design University, a Master of City Planning from the School of Environmental Design at the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor of Engineering in Architecture from the University of Tokyo in Japan. He is a registered architect (1st Class, Japan) and an American Institute of Certified Planners.
Darko Radović
Darko Radović is Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at Keio University, Tokyo, a Visiting Professor at United Nations University and Politecnico di Milano, DASTU. He has taught, researched and practised architecture and urbanism in Europe, Australia and Asia in the fields of sustainable architecture, urban design, planning and strategic thinking. At Keio University, Darko currently leads research laboratory co+labo radović, a Comprehensive Design Workshop and coordinates Keio Architecture Initiative. His work was published in English, Serbo-Croatian, Japanese, Korean, Italian and Thai languages.