Japan Architectural Review最新文献

This study focused on the guiding effect of residents' room signs and restroom signs displayed in group homes for elderly individuals with dementia. The results indicated that wandering behavior was primarily observed in residents with moderate dementia. An analysis of their behavior showed that while they had a general sense of the location and direction of their intended destination and could correctly reach the area around it, they were unable to identify the precise location in the final process of selecting the correct door. In contrast, when text-based signs displaying residents' names or “restroom” were used, these served as cues to help identify the precise location, thereby preventing wandering behavior.

This study clarified the following three points regarding the National Indoor General Stadium for the Tokyo Olympics: (1) By organizing the official meeting schedule and construction process chart, the symbol zones were discussed at several meetings, and the construction of the symbol zone was done simultaneously with multiple constructions. (2) Using official minutes and publications, the development process of the festival square was visually organized. (3) Various collaborative designs were created for the festival square. Tange understood the limitations of time and budget and successfully crystallized the ideas of the participating members.

The purpose of this study is to gain knowledge about the coexistence of monument protection and energy in southern Germany's Old Town through resident intentions, laws, and permit decision criteria. First, there is a movement to allow rooftop PV on buildings in the Old Town. Next, there are two requirements for rooftop PV installation under the Old Town Protection Law: (1) building evaluation of monument protection and impact on surrounding buildings, etc. and (2) visibility from public spaces. It has become clear that the expansion of the interpretation of “public space” as a viewpoint is protecting historic buildings.

Economic Census, which is an official statistic, was used in urban analysis. Conversely, private gourmet information websites were used to obtain pinpoint rich restaurant information. However, not all restaurants were listed on gourmet information sites. Therefore, in this study, we clarify the spatial characteristics of the Economic Census and gourmet information websites through spatial comparison. Furthermore, we present a case study of its application to urban analysis and demonstrate its usefulness.

Urban renewal (UR) and transit-oriented development (TOD) are critical issues for improving the built environments and socioeconomic conditions of developed cities. This research focuses on UR in Taipei City, Taiwan, and discusses whether these UR projects are “transit-oriented.” This research examines all 163 UR projects completed in Taipei City as of the end of 2020 to investigate the accessibility of UR to public transportation, including mass rapid transit (MRT), city buses, and YouBike. The findings demonstrate that city buses are more accessible than MRT within UR sites; therefore, city bus networks are considered the dominant transit option for present-day TOD policy in Taipei City. This research suggests resolving the uneven distribution of MRT networks across regions within Taipei City. Further, residential land use shows a worthwhile accessibility to public transportation. It is important to optimize the use of the existing city bus networks to promote the TOD model of UR. Further, the findings suggest that it may be effective to promote connections between MRT, city buses, and YouBike, especially in areas zoned for residential land use, as this could enhance policies based on the TOD model of UR.

Most of the dual-purpose buildings built by the Incorporated Church Building Society in the 19th century were mission buildings. In the 20th century, many consecrated churches were constructed as dual-purpose buildings. Installing a stage for secular use became common. However, reserving at least one-third of the total floor to be used exclusively for worship was recommended. In addition, several floor plans emerged that allowed the worship floor to be extended but not vice versa. A wider range of floor plan variations was found that explicitly identified worship as the primary use.

An effective method to develop the activities of nonresidents in the area of the Tenkawa shrine is to offer extraordinary experiences in which people can participate casually through “ko” to enhance religious culture based on the shrine's history. This can also increase the sustainability of the area where the shrine is located, as the charm of the shrine has attracted several households, which have moved into the village in recent years.

Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are widely spread in aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments, which is a marked environmental concern. However, research on indoor microplastic pollution remains limited, particularly in Japan. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the shape and composition of microplastics in house dust from single-person households in four regions of Japan, including Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, and Kansai. Micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, a technique that combines infrared spectroscopy with optical microscopy was used, allowing a detailed analysis by obtaining the specific interference patterns and absorption spectra of the materials. The influence of building structure, flooring, and wall materials on microplastic composition in indoor environments was also investigated. This study addresses crucial knowledge gaps regarding the extent, forms, and sources of indoor microplastics. These findings contribute to the development of targeted measures to mitigate indoor microplastic exposure, support efforts to improve indoor air quality, and protect public health.

A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate an evaluation method for building habitability based on subjective responses to vibrations caused by external sources. Twenty-five individuals participated in the experiment, which involved 76 input stimulus conditions, including vibrations based on field records and sinusoidal vibrations in the horizontal direction. Subjective responses were measured in terms of “magnitude,” “concern,” and “discomfort,” The study compared several domestic and international evaluation methods for environmental vibrations with subjective responses, revealing that the vibration dose value, which accounts for the effect of vibration duration raised to the fourth power, was the most reasonable method.

Following schematic design in November 1948, the design effort continued through working design (detailed design prepared for construction work), which was completed in June 1950, and subsequent detailed construction instruction design. These phases included dome installation over the sanctuary, crypt redesign, window design, and tower design, all of which are impressive manifestations seen in the built work. This paper depicts the architect's creative and strategic design thinking during these phases by analyzing formal manipulations observed in sketches and drawings created until just before the cathedral's dedication on August 6, 1954.