Taiga
Taba
NIHONBASHI THEATRE
Highway Over Generations
A highway runs above the Nihonbashi River. It was recently announced that the highway would be transferred underground. The assignment questioned us the contemporary form of infrastructure, as well as whether the highway should be preserved or transferred. Half a century has passed since its construction, and the highway faces difficulties such as decrepitude and law revisions. The requisite of the assignment was to create a "theatre" while contemplating about such topic.
Daily Theatrical Experience
Planned Diversion
Throughout my daily life, I have considered observing construction sites within my commuting paths to be a theatrical experience. It is a temporary stationed phenomenon that changes daily. Sometimes the change is drastic and draws the viewer's attention. I have received some kind of stimulation from it.
The planned architecture withholds its frame as a demolition/reinforcement base. The frame is succeeded to become a resource center. Traits are left as memories to remind us of the transformation of Nihonbashi. The steel frame structure allows partition walls to be installed in the future to create display spaces and closed spaces for different functions.
Ideal Representation of Nihonbashi in the Future
Now that the transfer of the highway has been resolved by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, I decided not to go against the decision, but to accept it as a natural process of civic reformation. My solution was to make the transformation process of Nihonbashi into a theatrical experience. During the process, the architecture site would function as a demolition/reinforcement base of the highway that lies along the Nihonbashi River. It will function as a gateway to the river and support the on-water construction. Heavy construction equipments will be imported to the site and exported to the river. Once the highway is transferred underground, the architecture site will be diverted into a resource center, preserving traces and memories of the transformation process to succeed for the future.
The Relation Between Observers and the Observed
The Nihonbashi Bridge connects the office areas with Tokyo Station. Different functions are scattered around the district, and the daily users frequently cross the bridge. Since tall buildings are constructed alongside the river, the only time people of Nihonbashi can directly sense the existence of the highway and the river is when crossing the bridge. Therefore, the bridge is the audience’s observatory base and the scenery created by the demolition/reinforcement base is the target of observation. The occasional crossing of the bridge allows people to fragmentarily obtain information about the transformation process. Because there is an interval between each visit, and the fact that people cannot sense the process elsewhere in Nihonbashi, a sudden difference may be perceivable, consequently creating a theatrical experience.
Shape Diagram
Swipe for Before and After !!
Height of the Highway and the Site
In order to succeed the memories of the highway, the planned height matches the height of the highway. The site was previously a parking lot, making the elevation of the highway partially visible. By matching the heights of both elements, the horizontal scenery is succeeded within the site. From 2020 to 2040, where both the highway and the planned site concurrently exist, the vehicles running on the highway visually seems as though it is running on the roof of the planned site. Therefore I also matched the colors of the horizontal elements of the plan (beams and roofs) to be the same as the highway as a form of physical succession.
Altering the Flow Line and Dividing Spaces
All spaces are created seamless, and multiple working areas in different scales are scattered around the building. The flow line towards the level of water is valued for the smooth execution of reinforcement and destruction.
The deck on the river is extended for the use of the public as a leisure space. The interior is divided and functions necessary for a resource center are inserted.
Swipe for Before and After !!
Examples of Infiltration
Architectural Structure and Composition
The Demolition/Reinforcement Base will need a wide working space. I adopted a brace structure to provide a roof over a large space. Spaces created are made from a variety of combinations of cantilever structures. A future functional diversion is anticipated within the design.
