ADS-A 2022 Toward More Livable, Sustainable and Healthier Future – Sakuragaoka, Shibuya -, Hiroyuki Sasaki

The deterioration of global environmental, nationalism, social and economic disparities, health issues as well as the emergence of new technologies such as DX, AI and autonomous vehiclesrequire us to change the way to design cities and buildings. In Japan, a rapid population decline and aging are also urgent issues to solve. Furthermore, the global epidemic of COVID-19 and associated mobility restrictions have transformed work and private life patterns and significantly changed people’s values.
Under these circumstances, cities need to be designed more diverse, compact, well-connected with street networks and public transit systems, resistant to infectious diseases, and to accommodate new technologies. Districts and buildings need to be designed to accommodate a variety of human activities and to be more responsive to the local environment, context and culture. Utilization of existing spatial resources is also an important issue. The entire design studio focuses on Sakuragaoka district, in the south-west quadrant of Shibuya Station area, where major redevelopment projects are underway in all 4 quadrants. Shibuya Station area has been divided into 4 quadrants with their different characteristics by Route 246 and JR Yamanote & Saikyo Railroad trackssince 1964 and had weak connections mutually. However, ongoing redevelopment projects include the construction of pedestrian decks that will connect these 4 quadrants and integrate all quadrants.
Sakuragaoka district has been conformed with a variety of land uses with commercial, office, residential, educational and so forth and buildings in various scales. The area also has a rich topography represented by its name, Sakuraga”oka,” which means a hill.A major redevelopment projects are underway on 2.6 ha area on the western side of the railroad tracks and the southern side of Route 246. A new station exit will be built on this area and will be connected with other quadrants by pedestrian decks. A number of “zakkyo bldg.,” or multi-tenant buildings have been demolished for the redevelopment, although these buildings have been partially representing the unique characteristics of the district.
The purpose of this studiois to make a counterproposal to thedevelopment plan prepared by Tokyu Land Corporation and others. Student are expected to propose future vision and an associated comprehensive urban environment integrated with the surrounding environment including existing neighborhoodsfor the focus area, while considering the current and transforming social, political, economic, and environmental situation as well as the possibilities and roles of the focus area. The proposal needs to include, but is not limited to, 1) office, 2) commercial, 3) residential, 4)medical, 5) education, 6) “urban core” and public open spaces.