flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Demolition danger: Traditional Japanese architecture under threat in Tokyo district

Demolition danger: Traditional Japanese architecture under threat in Tokyo district

Preservation faces a lot of obstacles in this area, from the law to limited urban space for developers.


By BD+C Staff | July 9, 2014
Oddly enough, a tree has become the center of efforts to conserve traditional architecture in Tokyo's historic Yanaka district. The 90-year-old Himalayan cedar stands on a plot purchased by an Osaka-based real estate agent. Residents are trying to block plans to bulldoze the plot as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the neighborhood. 
 
The Yanaka area is unique because it is home to so many buildings which survived both the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and World War II. The cedar plot currently up for bulldozing is surrounded by buildings from the Edo Period (1603–1867), the Taisho Era (1912-1926) and the early Showa Era (1926-1989). The Tokyo University of the Arts performed a survey showing that wooden buildings dating to 1964 or earlier in and around Yanaka have dropped in number from 748 in 1986 to 4016 in 2012. 
 
Read the full story at The Asahi Shimbun.

Tags

Related Stories

Wood | Jun 2, 2015

Michael Green Architecture designs world's tallest wood building for Paris competition

“Just as Gustave Eiffel shattered our conception of what was possible a century and a half ago, this project can push the envelope of wood innovation with France in the forefront," said architect Michael Green of the project.  

Wood | May 21, 2015

How CLT wood construction affects project cost

SRG Partnership's Emily Dawson shares insights on the installation, availablilty, and cost of cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction, based on the firm's recent project at the Oregon Zoo.

Wood | Apr 26, 2015

Building wood towers: How high is up for timber structures?

The recent push for larger and taller wood structures may seem like an architectural fad. But Building Teams around the world are starting to use more large-scale structural wood systems. 

Museums | Apr 10, 2015

Henning Larsen Architects designs timber museum extension in Sweden

The new extension will complement Österund’s wooded surroundings

High-rise Construction | Mar 24, 2015

Timber high-rise residential complex will tower over Stockholm waterfront

The four towers, 20 stories each, will be made entirely out of Swedish pine, from frame to façade.

Multifamily Housing | Mar 18, 2015

Prefabricated skycubes proposed with 'elastic' living apartments inside

The interiors for each unit are designed using an elastic living concept, where different spaces are created by sliding on tracks.

Wood | Feb 3, 2015

16 stunning wood buildings win 2015 Wood Design Awards

Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Airport and Stapleton Library in Staten Island, N.Y., are among the projects honored by WoodWorks.

Sponsored | | Dec 30, 2014

Case studies: Engineered wood brings cost savings, design flexibility across commercial project types

For commercial architects facing increasing pressure to design innovative structures while simultaneously cutting costs and accommodating tight deadlines, engineered wood systems are providing a welcome solution. 

Sponsored | | Dec 5, 2014

Best practices for force transfer around openings

As wood-frame construction is continuously evolving, designers in many parts of the U.S. are optimizing design solutions that require the understanding of force transfer between elements in the lateral load-resisting system. 

Sponsored | | Nov 19, 2014

Robust structural frame supports historic building renovation in Newport, R.I.

The Audrain Building on Newport’s celebrated Bellevue Avenue was designed by New York architect Bruce Price in the early 1900s with intricate exterior detailing that exudes an enduring sense of luxury and tradition. 

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category


Mass Timber

Bjarke Ingels Group designs a mass timber cube structure for the University of Kansas

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and executive architect BNIM have unveiled their design for a new mass timber cube structure called the Makers’ KUbe for the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design. A six-story, 50,000-sf building for learning and collaboration, the light-filled KUbe will house studio and teaching space, 3D-printing and robotic labs, and a ground-level cafe, all organized around a central core.



halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021