FIXING the Neighbourhood: Investigations in Suburban Tokyo (Sketching for Usable Cities)

transcript

Presentation For:Transforming Neighborhoods - Tokyo / Berlin

@Institute for Information Design Japan

byChris Berthelsen (a-small-lab)chris@a-small-lab.com

People play with things and find new uses for them (Lynch, 1984:157); Messy and spontaneous, individually created, everyday expressions of the creativity of everyday people in all of its facets. A response to the environment, a reflection of society, culture, and

traditions (Jonas, 2007). Change reconciles with the idea of improvement (Koolhaus, 2002) and people feel joy, as opposed to mere pleasure (Illich, 1973:17).

Sketching for Usable Cities

Intrinsic motivation

Neighbourhood Creative Climate

FIXING the Neighbourhood: Investigations in Suburban Tokyo

Chris Berthelsena-small-lab.com

FIXING the Neighbourhood: Investigations in Suburban Tokyo

Chris Berthelsen (chris@a-small-lab.com)a-small-lab.com

3 small projectsa-small-lab.com/fixes/ (東京の小さな繕い）tokyo-diy-gardening.org(てづくりの緑たち）a-small-lab.com/projects/kokonohanashi/(ここの話）

MAIN LINKSWebsite: http://a-small-lab.com

Fixes Project: http://a-small-lab.com/fixes/ (resource) and http://a-small-lab.com/projects/fixes/ (project overview)Flickr Sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/a-small-lab/collections/72157623668988392/

Tokyo-DIY-Gardening: http://tokyo-diy-gardening.org Tokyo-DIY-Gardening City Mapping Workshop MAP: http://tokyo-diy-gardening.org/tokyo-diy-gardening-workshop-map/ Tokyo-DIY-Gardening: Personal Impact of Urban Green Space MODEL:http://tokyo-diy-gardening.org/personal-impact-of-urban-green-space/ Tokyo-DIY-Gardening City Mapping Workshop WRITE UP: http://greenz.jp/en/2010/11/01/tokyo-diy-gardening-interactive-map-ready-for-exploring/ Tokyo-DIY-Gardening City Mapping Workshop WRITE UP:http://www.3331.jp/news/en/201008/000564.html

Kokonohanashi Project: http://a-small-lab.com/projects/kokonohanashi/ Kokonohanashi WRITE UP:http://tokyogreenspace.com/2010/11/04/%e3%81%93%e3%81%93%e3%81%ae%e8%a9%b1-koko-no-hanashi-talking-about-here/

For references to literature, concepts etc in – just ask!

Main Theme

> Intrinsic Motivation can trump external forces (design, planning, good intentions, etc etc).

> A plan/strategy for increasing + sustaining intrinsic motivation should be central to any proposed project or solution for cities and citizens (and in the context of this workshop, the elderly).

> A modified creative climate framework (from social psychology research in business/research organizations) provides a promising starting point.

Structure of this presentation 001:

> Trigger/Context quotes & notes on control, the radical monopoly of space, and the hope that can be held for citizen power.

> Examples of the fine grained ways that regular citizens solve problems and mold their environments (from FIXES and Tokyo-DIY-Gardening projects).

> Sketching for Usable Cities overview (Agile, Robust, Fine Grained)

> Personal benefits of sketching (or DIY, non-intentional design whatever you want to call it).

> Notes on location: Scattered Use, Scattered Uchi – how the one person's 'Uchi' can be dispersed throughout the city. Implications for the 'non-intentional landscape'. The (non-linear) development/growth of the city as an aggregate of fine grained, non-connected individual actions.

> Round up of first half of presentation.

Structure of this presentation 002:

> Imagining/Constructing/Discussing/Debating the non-intentional landscape of Tokyo – Interactive workshop at 3331 Arts Chiyoda example.

> Brief implications/directions - Q&A

> Introducing 'Neighbourhood Creative Climate' framework (Creativity, Components of Creativity, etc).

> An experiment in 'trying to do something' in the neighbourhood – the Kokonohanashi ｢ここの話」 project overview. Aims: (1) investigate systems for citizen discussion about place. (2) investigate creative climate perceptions (researcher-as-subject.)

> Roundup.

> Comments, anger, etc – work with participants to flesh out Neighbourhood Creative Climate framework from a Japanese perspective.

→ The abstract, faceless conquest of Space by Man (capitalized) → the limitation of place for men (in small letters) (Ellul,

1964:328). Our city illness has a basic motive (Lynch, 1984:364), a common denominator; A single mechanism by which it most disturbs urbanites. This is the loss of control.

The message is clear: “You cannot do as you please; your actions do not make any difference."

The Radical Monopoly of Space:a major tool rules out natural competence, imposing compulsory consumption and thereby restricting personal autonomy. It constitutes a special kind of social control because it is enforced by means of the imposed consumption of a standard product that only large institutions can provide (Illich, 1973:35).

people give up their native ability to do what they can do for themselves and for each other, in exchange for something “better” that can be done for them only by a major tool (Illich, 1973:36)

Verbs become nouns. We no longer ‘garden’ or ‘play’ or ‘cycle’ – the city of the fully industrialized man ‘has’ (calls his own) gardens and playgrounds and cycling tracks which are made for him. Now, space is stated in terms of a commodity and claims are made in terms of competition for scarce resources (see e.g Illich, 1973:56). The actor has become the consumer, who gambles for perceived nouns.

The components for self-building of the city can be easily and cheaply made available. People could build, adapt, create and modify, while at the same time learning about materials, systems and relationships. But instead, government and commercialities deposit roads, apartment blocks, parks, green spaces, roof gardens, barbeque zones, and other built environmental components into the city - the professionally built is defined as the functional unit, and the self-built is stamped as a shanty (Illich, 1973:41).

Consumer protection, ‘better spaces’ and planning are insufficient. When consumers gain more confidence in a ‘product’ (those lovely, safe and green) the victory only increases society’s dependence at the cost and frustration of those who cannot or would prefer not to partake (Illich, 1973:37). While the organized self-protection of the addict-consumer immediately raises the quality of the dope and the

power of the peddler, it may lead ultimately to limits (Illich, 1973:37). Discerning consumers (citizens?→modifiers/gardeners?→city creators/curators?) may discover that they can do better by doing things for themselves.

The most powerful way of improving our environment then is to put the control of it into the hands of its immediate users who have the stake and knowledge to make it function well (Lynch, 1984:165).

The last great force in the city is the residents themselves (Orum and Chen:18); their creative response to change is their ultimate guarantee of survival (Lynch, 1984:172).

人々は考えている。> Examples of the fine grained ways that regular citizens solve problems and mold their environments (from FIXES and Tokyo-DIY-Gardening projects).

バス停のベンチの設置。Public Seating

危険防止。Safety.

アクセス。Access.

自宅のアクセスが不便になった人はWhen access becomes difficult

対応する。Fix it.

スペースも土もなければ、自分の手で作る。In a city with scarce space and dirt, make it yourself....

幅が１０センチしかない場所でも。Even on a 10cm wide curb....

歩道でも。Or on the sidewalk.

高い建物の中でも。Or in a highrise.

狭いレンガ壁の上でも。Or on a precarious brick wall.

線路沿いでも。Or along the railroad tracks.

花が好きな人はFlower lovers share their passion...

渋谷のマスカット・オタクはGrape-obsessed Shibuya-ites.....

スペースも土もなければ、自分の手で作る（そして美味しいもの（バジル）もできる）。

街角のDEAD SPACEだと思ったら、What appears to be dead space...

唐辛子が育っていた。Is home to fresh red peppers.

亡くなった夫の大切にしていた近所の公園の小さな花園を維持し続ける。Maintaing a dead spouse's neighbourhood park garden...

ゴミだらけのDEAD SPACEだと思ったら、What appears to be run-down dead space

緑豊かなリビング・フェンスが空き地を隠してくれた。Becomes a lush living fence that beautifies the vacant lots

そしてきれいな花が訪ねてきた。An plays host to lovely flora....

近所のイタズラThe work of neighbourhood misfits

実はトマト畑。Is actually a tomato garden.

隣へよく行く人は、People who often visit the neighbours

その必要に応じる。Create their own access-ways.

ゴミ箱がなければ、設置する。Placing rubbish bins where they are needed.

動物立ち入り禁止！Animals KEEP OUT!

With intricate, flexible and affordable construction.

路上喫煙禁止地区ではない道ではマナを守る。Even pedestrian smokers find a way to keep the street (if not the air) clean.

帰り道が暗いアパートには街路灯。Dark apartment complexes call for home-made street lights.

道が分かりにくい街には・・・And when you're sick of people asking you how to find the station, you stick up

some signs.

自転車置き場の不便にレンガ。Bricks are a key element in bicycle parking.

フォックスフェイスの季節Foxface decorates an inner city garden

ではなくても構いません。Even when it's out of season (fruit are tied on with plastic ties)

ジャズクラブのない郊外には・・・・・In the suburbs, where Jazz clubs are scarce, you need to make your own..

ゴルフ好き郊外の老人は・・・・・And golf lovers construct a 'fold away' 9-hole course in the local park.

ad infinitum

Sketching for Usable Citiesつ

Quick, timely, inexpensive, disposable, plentiful, distinct, minimal, ambiguous, beta, open, hopeful, seeking

Agile機動的

Robust丈夫

Agile機動的

RobustFlexibility, adaptability to local & personal needs and opportunities(Turner & Roberts, 1975)

Agile機動的

Robust丈夫

Robust

Fine Grained

Flexibility, adaptability to local & personal needs and opportunities(Turner & Roberts, 1975)

Agile機動的

Robust丈夫

Granularity（グラニュラリティ）(e.g Turner & Roberts, 1975)

Developers, Govt = Coarse grained cities（企業や政府が「作る」のは粗粒子）

= tension, friction, mismatch, waste＝ストレス、不安、摩擦、不一致、無駄

= the first to suffer are the weak＝弱いものはすぐ苦しくなる

Granularity（グラニュラリティ）(e.g Turner & Roberts, 1975)

Developers, Govt = Coarse grained cities（企業や政府が「作る」のは粗粒子）

= tension, friction, mismatch, waste＝ストレス、不安、摩擦、不一致、無駄

= the first to suffer are the weak＝弱いものはすぐ苦しくなる

Local action, entrepreneurship etc = fine grain（個人や近所レベル行動＝細粒）

= better matched needs＝一致。ニーズに合った行動

= security＝安全、安心

= efficient and effective＝効率的かつ効果的

=good for people

Based on informal chats, discussions, interviews, our own experience, and research into Tokyo’s informal landscapes (especially the great work of Mariluise Jonas)

Long time

Functional Emotional

Immediate

Social Norms

Aesthetics

Memory

Community

Mutual dependence

Pleasure

Indpendence

Affordable

Practical

長期

実用感情

即時

社会規範

記憶

地域社会

相互依存

喜び

独立

（家計的に）無理なくできること

実質

伝統

Personal Effects/個人的影響

Scattered use, Scattered Uchi=involvement, care, peace of mind over scale

Dwelling・住宅 City・都市

> Notes on location: Scattered Use, Scattered Uchi – how the one person's 'Uchi' can be dispersed throughout the city. Implications for the 'non-intentional landscape'. The (non-linear) development/growth of the city as an aggregate of fine grained, non-connected individual actions.

Home・自宅 Dwelling・住まい

Scattered Uchi（散在性の「内」）

Surrounds・家の近く

Frontage・正面Footpath・歩道

OppositeFootpath・反対歩道

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood・近所

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads・近くの道路

Close SmallParks・近くの公園

Uncle'sHouse・おじさんの家

Own Shop& Surrounds

ParkingSpace・駐車所

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Dwelling

Surrounds

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

Uncle'sHouse Own Shop

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb・町・街

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Own Shop& Surrounds

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Dwelling

Surrounds

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

NearbyLarge Park・もっと大きい公園 Workplace・職場

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb・町・街

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Own Shop& Surrounds

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Dwelling

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

NearbyLarge Park

Workplace

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb

City・都市

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb・町・街

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Own Shop& Surrounds

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Dwelling

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

DeceasedGrandparents'House & Shop・亡くなった親戚の家や店

NearbyLarge Park

Workplace

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb

Workplace・職場

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

NearbyLarge Park

Workplace

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb

City・都市

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

NearbyLarger Roads

Close SmallParks

& Surrounds

ParkingSpace

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Suburb・町・街

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Own Shop& Surrounds

Dwelling

Surrounds

Neighbourhood

Frontage Footpath

OppositeFootpath

Dwelling

Themes

> TRANSFORMING the big-size city into the small-scale city where people feel encouraged and able, and intrinsically rewarded for assuming control over their environment (Krupat, 1985:207; discussed in relation to Tokyo in Jonas, 2007).

> Neither the passive observer of determined systems (consumer) nor a determined manipulator of passive material (planner, developer, businessman), but rather, the manager (cultivator) of an unfolding process occurring in (scattered) personal locations (uchi) (based on Reiser and Umemoto, 2006:104)

> Could many minor changes across the city add up to major transformations in our environment?(Sub Plan, 2009)

(This is Tokyo....non-intentional design, non-intentional landscaping, Tokyo's non-intentional landscape).

> Imagining/Constructing/Discussing/Debating the non-intentional landscape of Tokyo – Interactive workshop at 3331 Arts Chiyoda example.Tokyo-DIY-Gardening City Mapping Workshop MAP: http://tokyo-diy-gardening.org/tokyo-diy-gardening-workshop-map/ Tokyo-DIY-Gardening City Mapping Workshop WRITE UP: http://greenz.jp/en/2010/11/01/tokyo-diy-gardening-interactive-map-ready-for-exploring/ Tokyo-DIY-Gardening City Mapping Workshop WRITE UP:http://www.3331.jp/news/en/201008/000564.html

東京　ＤＩＹ　ガーデンイング　ワークショップ(3331 Arts Chiyoda)

Implications for the Eldery/Aging Societies....for those that will be 'old' in 10,20,30 years.......

> A resource, a sourcebook> Preserving 繕い spirit> A history> Patterns?> Implications for how cities/neighbourhoods are run..or not run.

Etc etc etc

NeighbourhoodCreativeClimate

creative product創造的アウトプット

creative product As fine-grained component of happiness.

創造的アウトプット

creative productProcess（プロセス）

As fine-grained component of happiness.

Person（人格）

Press (Environment)（環境・風土）

creative product

Components of Creativity

Process（プロセス）

Person（人格）

creative product

Knowledge & Skills問題領域の知識

Person（人格）

creative product

Creativity Specific Skills創造スキルなど

Person（人格）

creative product

IntrinsicMotivation内因性動機付け

Person（人格）

creative product

Person（人格）

creative product

Person（人格）

Creative Climate（創造的環境・風土）(see e.g. Ekvall, Amabile, Isaksen)

Freedomどれだけ自由に意思決定できるか。

Trust/Openness信頼感の高さ。

Timeどれだけアイデアを練る・実現させる時間があるか。

Playfulness/Humorどれだけリラックスした雰囲気か。

Conflictネガティブな感情をともなう非建設的な関係がどれだけ存在するか。

Idea Support新しいアイデアを出すことがどれだけ奨励されるか。

Debateどれだけ建設的な意見交換が行われているか。

Risk Toleranceリスクを犯すことにどれだけ耐えられるか。失敗は学習の機会と見なされる。

> An experiment in 'trying to do something' in the neighbourhood – the Kokonohanashi ｢ここの話」 project overview. Aims: (1) investigate systems for citizen discussion about place. (2) investigate creative climate perceptions (researcher-as-subject.)

Image: Tokyo (Google Maps)

The kokonohanashi ( 「ここの話」 lit. 'talking about here') project works locally with a combinat-ion of analogue (notebooks, pens, laminated A4 posters, wire, legwork) and open low-tech digital tools (QR codes, stripped down Wordpress, email, smart-and-not-so-smart-phones) to

investigate the development of a platform for discussion about, and positive action in, city space by the people who most matter -

those who experience and use the place in their everyday lives.

Image: France Bed Factory, Akishima (Google Maps)

Rough Schematic

External interaction with log through commenting

Open discussion Log

(stripped down wordpress)

Front End

Output(presentations, reports, workshops, games, etc)

QR codes, URL direct link, 'real' writing in notebooks attached to posters

Collation, Categorization etc...

Deeper discussion,Interviews,Communication,Workshops

Analysis, discussion etc...

External Interaction

Interaction with city and relevant stakeholders

Unregistered participants access + join in location specific discussion through posters at locations around the city

※　How can we construct low-cost, agile, fine-grained (and also scalable) ways -

(1) for people to begin to discuss and interact with the spaces they use, and the other people that use them? (2) to record, share, the living histories of places (memories, experiences, feelings)?

First Stage: Five locations in suburban Tokyo

What are:> Official reactions (positive/negative/non-existent, direct/indirect etc)> User reactions/participation (content, patterns, time, feeling etc)> Channels of participation (hierarchy, patterns, content etc)> Materials/Tools (how robust, appropriate, necessary etc)> Places (official, private, semi-public, residential, abandoned etc)> Collaboration, participation avenues?

Review/Revise/Collaborate/Interact (Further Stages)

More Practical Details

The kokonohanashi ( 「ここの話」 lit. 'talking about here') project works locally

- in the community where we live. With places that we know.

At the first stage of testing:

> A run-down park in front of a factory (run-down, official)> A friendly neighbourhood park which has been declared a 'night no-go zone' (well-kept, official)> A park under a motorway (run-down, secluded, official)> An abondoned car in an apartment complex car park (illegal use)> A deserted house on a school route (run-down, private property)

Image: Western Tokyo (Google Maps)

analogue (notebooks, pens, laminated A4 posters, wire, legwork)

- materials on location.

> Laminated A4 posters fastened with wire and tape (key components of the Japanese DIY public signage kit) installed in selected locations.

> A notebook and pen attached for non-net-enabled users.

Image: Examples of street signage in Japan (from FIXES project)

Example Poster

Example poster (Top Half, Trigger Statement)

Trigger Question or Statement

Example poster (Bottom Half)

QR Code

Place name

General contact details

Heading: “What do you think about

this place?”

Installation period (until the end of

November)

About the kokonohanashi

project

Invitation to add own place to the

project

Place specific URL

Use instructions (access, email, comment etc)

digital (QR codes, stripped down Wordpress, email, smart/not-so-smart-phones)

- real(ish) time commenting/contribution/access to other opinions.

> Access to location-specific post via QR code, direct URL – PC/Mobile.> Commenting/discussion enabled.> Easy monitoring via comment rss feed.

Online component running stripped down Wordpress

Access site via QR code (or direct URL) Retrieve message

Connect Comment

Thank You!

First stage test locations

A run-down park in front of a factory

“This park is known around here as 'one-park' because it only has one slide”

｢この公園はすべり台が一つしかないので｢ワン公園」とよばれています。」

A friendly neighbourhood park which has been declared a 'night no-go zone'.

“Why can't we use this park at night anymore?”

｢この公園が夜間使用禁止になったのはなぜ？」

A park under a motorway.

“From the outside, parks under motorways look like pretty sad places – but what's the reality? ”

｢近所の皆様、橋の下の遊び場は外から見ると寂しそうな感じですか、実際は？」

An abandoned car in an apartment complex car park

“This car has been here for three years....what do you think?”

｢この廃車は３年以上このままです。どう思いますか？」

A deserted house on a school route

“This house has been deserted for the last three years. Want to make it something a bit more fun?”

｢この廃屋は３年以上このままです。楽しい場所に変えてみませんか？」

Main Theme

> Intrinsic Motivation can trump external forces (design, planning, good intentions, etc etc).

> A plan/strategy for increasing + sustaining intrinsic motivation should be central to any proposed project or solution for cities and citizens (and in the context of this workshop, the elderly).

> A modified creative climate framework (from social psychology research in business/research organizations) provides a promising starting point.

> The FIXES and Tokyo-DIY-Gardening projects uncover examples of creative output. They are the starting point for deriving patterns/principles/frameworks of neighbourhood creativity that can inform the discussion on citizen created cities/urban planning/etc....

> kokonohanashi seeks to (1) understand practical directions for neighbourhood communication, (2) investigate the neighbourhood creative climate.

> Comments, anger, etc – work with participants to flesh out Neighbourhood Creative Climate framework from a Japanese perspective.

Contact:Chris Berthelsen (chris@a-small-lab.com)> twitter.com/a_small_lab > a-small-lab.com

With questions, comments, ideas... anything!