Description
According to demographical projections in Japan, in 2025, 70% of the seniors over 65 will live in urban agglomerations. The potential for structural change in these places will possibly be limited, thus jeopardising the existing social structure. Individuals will increasingly have to rely on the resources of society as a whole. Local communities will increasingly replace the traditional role of the family.
The architects based their concept neither on the urban context nor the brief (they were actually entitled to interpret it based on functional considerations). They rather deduced their conceptual idea from the prognosticated social behaviour of the future Japanese population and created a net-like structure that provides varied spaces for spontaneous encounters and generates social patterns resulting from academic everyday life. The design deliberately neglects conventional campus layouts with separate faculties; instead, it links and spatially overlaps them. This blurs the boundaries of the different disciplines and creates ”local communities”.
The university is situated about 40 km north of Tokyo on a secluded, rectangular and absolutely flat site between rice patties and residential areas. The urban context is very bland: the urban infrastructure is already notably thinned out, yet the natural environment is not highly attractive, either.
Two long volumes to the north and south containing the actual teaching facilities define the space of the complex. The laboratories are located on four levels on the outward-facing sides. They are lined up along an approximately 200 m long light-flooded main circulation axis that also serves as a communication zone and provides space for breaks and recreation.
The central campus is a park-like, raised plateau detached from the ground and situated between the two long volumes. An orthogonal pattern of paths runs through the park. Highly flexible modules of communal facilities are located below plateau level. These spaces receive daylight via courtyards cut into the plateau. Raised lecture halls, a gymnasium, and an auditorium supplement the campus.
Drawings
Site plan
Schematic sketch of building
Ground floor
Upper floor
Cross section
Photos
The campus forms an elevated plateau organised by an orthogonal grid of paths containing courtyards functioning as light-wells, and lecture halls on stilts
The laboratories on the ground floor as well as the research rooms and lecture halls on the upper floor are connected to the central axis
Originally published in: Hardo Braun, Dieter Grömling, Research and Technology Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2005.