Emergent Tokyo: Alleys, Multi-tenant Buildings, Under-railway Architecture, Culvert Streets, and Dense Low-rise Neighborhoods

2023/02/27

What are the best characteristics of Tokyo? And can we design cities with such excellent characteristics? To answer this question, the author has conducted years of surveys and research, writing this book with illustrations and photographs so that general readers can understand it.

Tokyo's brilliance lies in its inclusive, adaptable, and diverse urban spaces. These are formed by the accumulation of tiny daily activities of citizens in various sizes. Their unique patterns and ecosystems have evolved independently, exceeding the limits of government-led master plans or corporate profit-driven development. This development is named "Emergent Urbanism."

In this book, we examine five of the most characteristic "emergent" urban patterns that form Tokyo's charm: alleys (yokocho), multi-tenant buildings, under-railway architecture, culvert streets, and dense low-rise neighborhoods. These patterns are built from the bottom up by citizens and form the core of Tokyo, characterized by intimacy, resilience, and dynamism.

However, Tokyo is now undergoing a dramatic transformation. Large-scale redevelopment is taking place in the city center, destroying traditional streetscapes and transforming low-rise residential areas. These are basically composed of architectural types where luxury condominiums or high-rise office towers sit atop commercial facilities like shopping malls. Much of Tokyo's diverse charm has been lost through these redevelopments.

This book aims to present a direction for Tokyo's future that differs from large-scale redevelopment, from the perspectives of both its history and current strengths. The approach introduced here seeks to emulate and utilize the vitality of Tokyo shortly after the war, which still remains in much of the city today and laid the foundation for its unique character.

The underlying emergent urban design of Tokyo has succeeded in creating vibrant, diverse, inclusive, and innovative urban spaces in this complex and seemingly chaotic metropolis. Amidst a monotonous redevelopment rush where skyscrapers and shopping malls are repeatedly built, now is the time to promote Tokyo's emergent urban development.

Emergent Tokyo: Alleys, Multi-tenant Buildings, Under-railway Architecture, Culvert Streets, and Dense Low-rise Neighborhoods

Jorge Almazán (Co-author)

Gakugei Shuppansha

224 pages, 2,640 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and job titles are as of the time of publication.