From the ground up
Tokyo cityscape at sunset. Photo credit: Hana Irwin
This week I attended a fascinating presentation hosted by the Japan Foundation in Toronto where Dr. Alice Covatta (University of Montreal) shared case studies of instances where architecture can be a force for good in addressing a growing threat of “urban loneliness.” There is a rich irony in the fact that the most densely populated areas of our planet carry the highest instances of people feeling disconnected from their fellow human beings.
Dr. Covatta shared two quite different case studies from the greater Tokyo area: one larger scale and one (among apparently many) very small scale. Neither was driven by any public sector entity.
The larger scale example was championed by the Odakyu Electric Railway company who created new urban space between two stations on the Odakyu Train line in Western Tokyo (Yoyogi Uehara and Umegaoka Stations; have a look on a maps app to see the density involved). Burying an existing train line opened up new areas for development. Living in Toronto, one easily envisions a retail-fronted condo tower, but the plan here is not at all that. Low-rise and somewhat loosely arranged rental properties are mixed in with green space and smaller retail spaces. Of the very many nuances of this project (including the fact that seismic activity restricts taller builds), one of the resident expectations stood out to me as being anchored in a cultural norm. There is no external maintenance support for the shared “garden” areas between the residences. Those familiar with the tragedy of the commons may see this as a strategic error, but if you have spent time in Japan, a shared responsibility for what might be communal spaces seems well entrenched (i.e. the shop keeper dutifully watering the storefront road to keep dust down in the summer).
As one of what appears to be several very small scale architectural projects, Dr. Covatta spoke of a specific project that housed four people who each lived alone, but shared some living spaces, including an eating and food preparation areas. Rather than accepting this as a trade-off to keep rent low, this communal space is seen as an attractive feature for professionals living in Yokohama (just south of Tokyo). The design spec was to provide opportunities to “congregate” (with fellow residents and, as it was open to the street, perhaps neighbours, too!), while always providing the option to “retreat” to your own private space. One other characteristic of such projects was an ongoing relationship with the architect that continued well after the actual “building” was completed. The architect continues to be involved in “building” the community. This relationship would certainly provide rich feedback to see if the intended interactions actual came to pass.
In the post presentation discussion, the idea of “fit” for resident arose as in both these projects it appeared that rather than simply accepting tenants, they would be curated. This is where I will connect the work that I do in collaboration to these urban developments that are happening on the other side of the world.
Connection #1 - Generous self-interest
When the Odakyu Electric Train Company launched this project, they would have been very conscious of the positive external impact on the environment. They even use the term “Servant Developer” in their project descriptions. This said, they would have been equally conscious of the benefits of supporting a community for which their core business hinges on people wanting to get in and out of Shimokitazawa. Too often, I think, we discount intentions that seem generous but from which people those “benevolent” actors gain. Acknowledging this complexity and, to a certain extent, quieting our cynicism and mistrust, can go a long way.
Connection #2 - Structured socializing
Whether it is in the form of shared maintenance of an area that all enjoy (e.g. a garden) or that all require (e.g. meal prep and eating space) both of these projects seem to “engineer” a certain kind of community interaction. One audience member raised the concern, “What if they don’t get along?” My response to that would be, “Don’t they have to.” Perhaps a skill that this helps to build is co-existing with others irrespective of how well we “get along.” The old adage “Good fences make good neighbours,” to me means, not an absence of interaction with those around you, but a care in those interactions to minimize the risk of bad relations. Perhaps this is also cultural, as Japanese people are stereotypically reluctant to form close relationships.
Closing questions:
Can we expect powerful self-interested entities (e.g. businesses, associations, public sector bodies) to act in generous ways? I hope so, and I would also hope we recognize and encourage such actions.
Can we create environments where people have “no choice” but to collaborate? I would like to think so and I have developed skills in insights in helping that come to pass.