Tokyo City Streets

Hello, welcome to DESIGN TALKS plus.

I'm Andrea Pompilio.

Hi, I'm Shaula.

So, we're in this popular area in Tokyo, the Gaienmae avenue.

Yes, this is actually one of my favorite spots, I actually run around here a lot.

But in the autumn, it's so beautiful when all of these ginkgo trees turn yellow.

So, true.

Well, our topic today is "Tokyo City Streets."

And we have a very special guest today.

He's around the corner.

Let's go meet him.

Yeah, let's go.

Today on DESIGN TALKS plus, we're examining Tokyo's city streets.

Tokyo's major roads spread out from the city center like a spiderweb.

There are more slopes than most cities.

And many cozy downtown alleys.

It's a wonderfully diverse jumble of streets.

Experts are discussing imaginative ways to make Tokyo's streets safer and more attractive.

There's a whole host of new ideas.

Reexamining existing streets to harmonize with the environment and promote human connection - it's a new era for urban planning.

Not far from Gaienmae is the neighborhood of Aoyama.

It's packed with chic stores, cafes, and offices.

Andy and Shaula are meeting today's guest here.

Hello!

Hello. Good to see you again.

Hello, I'm Shaula.

It's a pleasure!

Architect and college professor Chiba Manabu researches cities.

We're close to the heart of Tokyo - right by Aoyama's famous crossroads.

Why did you want to meet us here?

Partly because my old office is very close.

Really?

I worked here for ten years, I ate around here, and I've got a lot of memories of the neighborhood.

Aoyama calls itself a cycling neighborhood.

Is that right?

Yes.

The whole Aoyama neighborhood?

That's right.

I think that in our sustainable future, bicycles are going to play an even bigger role in our lives.

For sure.

I'm a huge fan of cycling.

I used to cycle to the office.

I rode all around this area.

It's everyday transport to you.

Exactly.

And when you ride a bike through Tokyo, you notice things.

It's wonderful to see more cycle lanes appearing around the place.

But in Japan, even when there are marked cycle lanes, we see problems with cars parking there.

Yes! That's always bothered me.

If cars block the cycle lanes, it's no wonder cyclists use the sidewalks instead.

Cycling on the sidewalks had been the norm in Japan for a very long time.

But of course, that's dangerous for pedestrians.

So these are some issues I'd like to tackle for the future.

An avid cyclist, Chiba often finds himself thinking about the roads as he rides his beloved bike.

These roads often play a role in his architectural designs, too.

One of his most prominent works is this college campus.

Four buildings were placed to form a pedestrian alleyway.

This sense of proximity allows students and visitors to feel the campus' diversity.

Together, they visit a local gallery.

Chiba has put forward several cutting-edge ideas for Tokyo's city streets in this group exhibition.

Isn't this part of your project?

Oh yes, I see it!

This is fascinating.

So this Bicycle Highway would come right down the middle.

This is Aoyama-dori?

Yes, where we just were.

Aoyama-dori.

The corner we were standing on.

Just there!

At the intersection.

That's right.

What with parked cars and buses, I wanted to go back to the drawing board.

That's how I came to this question of whether it's really safer to have cycle lanes at the side of the road.

This central section feels like a good choice.

It's the safest, there's room for more bikes, and cyclists are visible to drivers.

There are no pedestrians to worry about either.

When they hit a red light, cyclists stop, and they can use pedestrian crossings where necessary to cross the road.

I think it's workable.

True.

Tokyo has a few major routes fanning out from the city center.

Arterial roads.

For these roads that run from the suburbs all the way into central Tokyo, I think it makes the most sense to build Bicycle Highways like this.

It's the safest option too.

It's a serious plan.

Revolutionary.

We're on the verge of major changes in mobility and transport.

It's happening around the world.

It's a great opportunity to rethink our cities.

The 20th century was mainly about massive infrastructure, spending money on highways and so on.

Small-scale movement doesn't need that kind of major infrastructure.

It's more about looking at our current environment and reinterpreting what we already have for the future.

It does require imagination.

It's really exciting to see physical models like this.

I'm sure this kind of infrastructure would inspire more people to take up cycling.

Right now, if I'm riding my bike and I come to an intersection, I need to think about how I'm going to avoid all the cars, and how I'll need to match their speed.

It's pretty dangerous.

I think it's hard for parents to send their kids out on their bikes these days because of the state of the roads.

It's too scary, right?

Definitely.

But with this kind of set-up, children could start riding much earlier.

There's so much potential, don't you think?

The model features other unique elements Chiba wants to showcase.

These two people down here… Are they working from their bikes?

At work stations?

You're seated on a bicycle.

That's all you need.

Why not ride to a workstation, open up your laptop and get to work?

Brilliant!

And equally, why not ride into a cafe and enjoy a drink?

I was wondering about those figures!

That's the idea.

You just ride right through.

Exactly!

Or, you could stay on your bike inside while you drink.

I wanted to see how far I could take the idea of the bicycle lifestyle.

Interesting.

It makes you realize just how imaginative you can be about these things.

This project isn't the only target of Chiba's imagination.

This central Tokyo highway is expected to be demolished by the 2030s.

Chiba wants to make the most of the site by building a sloped structure with a cycle lane across the roofs.

It's an exciting plan to reuse an important urban resource.

I want to turn the highway into an enormous building.

Linked structures?

Exactly - a two-kilometer-long office.

One that grows from zero to 200 meters high.

It's a somewhat ridiculous plan, I know.

Not at all!

It would be a dream path for cyclists - like rolling hills.

Wouldn't you want to avoid hills?

You normally would, yes.

Most cyclists tend to avoid them, but on the weekends cycling fanatics like myself love to get together for big hilly rides.

You could hold hill climbing races here.

Oh wow.

Ride the length and end up at a shrine.

That's so fun!

The shrine would have an amazing view of Tokyo Bay.

For those who don't like climbing slopes, there's an elevator for bikes so you can ride downhill.

It would be a unique experience - flying between all the Tokyo skyscrapers.

Totally unique!

That's an incredible idea.

And it sounds like it would be a general leisure spot as well.

A place to enjoy the outdoors in the city with no cars.

It would be fun and safe.

Exactly.

You could walk the length of the track, too.

Maybe some mini hiking.

A walk in the park.

And visit the shrine.

A day out.

The path up to the shrine gate.

Chiba has also brought his unique perspective to maps of existing roads.

Tokyo's terrain is unusual.

The red lines of this map show all the roads which are exactly 30 meters above sea level, marking a completely flat route.

From the gallery in Nogizaka.

To Komazawa park, a lush, green area in a residential neighborhood.

It's 9 kilometers by the shortest route.

But the map follows a 20-kilometer path which is completely flat.

I call it the "30-meter Heaven."

If you're carrying heavy groceries, or riding with a child, then you really want a flat street.

The distance might technically be further...

But it's a lot easier.

Exactly.

I want people to have the option.

Interesting.

Yeah.

And it's a nudge to try out a totally new route.

To explore your neighborhood and make new discoveries.

That's true.

That's it exactly.

Making a new map is a great way to guide others into rediscovering a neighborhood.

It's a simple way to get a new perspective.

When I was studying architecture in the 1980s, Japan was in an economic bubble and by global standards, Tokyo was a confusing mess.

I'm from Tokyo, so although I could see their point, I knew that there was order in the chaos.

Tokyo is a city of layers.

There are all kinds of structures that we don't really notice anymore.

But they are all linked together in interesting ways.

Discovering and sharing these geographic relationships is going to be so important in the future, I think.

Some creators are cooking up new designs that recenter the charms of Tokyo.

Architect Minagawa Norihisa is a big fan of walking.

He's holding a map he designed himself.

Tokyo has an unusually hilly terrain.

Minagawa used map data from a major publishing firm to create a three-dimensional version.

Using public data from Japan's Geospatial Information Authority, he carefully separated areas with even minor differences in altitude, assigning each a color.

He hopes the design will inspire people to take walks.

One of the charms of strolling up and down slopes is enjoying the difference in view as you rise and fall.

In Tokyo's downtown areas, buildings are packed tightly together, bound by a maze of alleyways.

Meanwhile, the elevated Nishi-Shinjuku area is much more spacious.

This contrast led to a revelation for Minagawa.

The Kanda River made this valley.
Shinjuku in the distance.

Lords and samurai
built homes on hills.

They were often large mansions.

I see their echo in Shinjuku's skyscrapers.

In the foothills lived artisans.
Lots of small, downtown homes.

There are geographic and
historical connections in Tokyo.

It doesn't always feel that way
but there are links here.

Discovering them is what makes
walking fun for me.

Minagawa's informative design provides a detailed view of Tokyo through sloping strolls.

Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo's busier neighborhoods.

A night-time street design has added personality to the area.

Streetlights have been installed in random locations along the sidewalk.

They were created by lighting designer Kakudate Masahide.

Japan has lightning standards
for infrastructure.

Streets must maintain an
average brightness. That's fine.

But I want to illuminate the town,
not just the road.

It's easier to walk when
we see our environment.

Most Japanese streetlights are placed at even intervals, providing uniform illumination.

But Kakudate installed additional lights by dark crossings, and at the foot of trees that can be a collision hazard.

His lights make the streets feel safer.

They also shine a spotlight on the area's diverse greenery.

He also added small lights to benches installed by the city.

Making the benches more visible allows people to check the seats are clean, making them more likely to sit.

Streets are much more than a way to move around.

This design encourages people to gather, and warms their spirits.

You can always feel the
presence of others in Ikebukuro.

A sense of light and other lives.

I want this feeling to last for decades.

To be part of our memories
of this location.

Chiba-san, what do you think about these two approaches to street design?

I'm very familiar with Kakudate-san's work.

When most people discuss lighting, the conversation is very centered on the lighting equipment.

But he is concerned with light itself.

He's very interested in how architecture can interact with ordinary light - it's an approach that resonates with me.

I'm delighted that he's now thinking on a much larger scale.

That requires a baseline of function and safety, but Tokyo in particular is almost too bright these days.

Some places use very bright, white lights.

It sort of erases any real sense of night-time.

I think it feels very unnatural.

And it makes it hard to relax sometimes.

Yes.

And I think this approach is perfect because it offers a little pool of light for people to enjoy.

Like with the benches.

Yes, they were very relaxing, don't you think?

Light only has value in the dark.

I think that his lighting designs speak to some of our oldest instincts.

I was interested in Minagawa-san's three-dimensional relief map of Tokyo.

I definitely see some overlap with your '30-Meter Heaven' cycling map.

Would you agree?

Oh definitely, that map really spoke to me!

I've always loved making maps, and Minagawa-san has focused on hills.

It's sort of the opposite approach to my 30-meter map.

And yet I think our motives are pretty similar.

I agree.

How do we find a new perspective on Tokyo?

I've actually taken that idea a bit further.

I started a project for which I'm making a hundred different maps of Tokyo.

Things like, a map of all the empty lots across the city.

Very niche!

It really is!

Or maybe all of the construction sites.

Or the city's dead-end alleyways.

I'd like to make maps that plot out all of these small details.

Interesting.

There are so many elements.

That's incredible.

And they all give you a better understanding of Tokyo.

That's part of my inspiration.

Does your map-making have an effect on your architecture?

Tokyo has many unique streets, like shopping arcades.

Oh yes.

Or alleyways.

There are some very intimate alleys, but also bright, sun-filled avenues.

Each inspires different emotions.

But why not bring those streets inside buildings?

Your campus design touches on that idea a little, doesn't it?

That's right.

Instead of closed-off lecture rooms where you can only see the teacher, why not windows and another class just a few meters away?

I can imagine it would lead to more communication.

'Hey, let's get lunch!' 'Hey!'

Exactly.

And why not?

As long as you listen to the professor!

Of course.

University is about so much more than class.

It's a place to build relationships with friends, to learn new skills, and learn more about the world.

Those things really matter.

So why not make it feel like you're studying in the city - part of a much larger whole.

I wanted to use that internal street map to encourage personal networks and relationships.

Next, let's explore Tokyo's often overlooked roadside plants.

A calming glimpse of green for pedestrians, the plants also absorb exhaust fumes and noise.

In summer, they soften the sun's glare, and they provide visual references for drivers.

But once they reach a certain size, they require clipping and cutting to prevent them from becoming a safety hazard.

The clippings are recycled and used for paper, but few residents pay much attention to this process.

A new design is drawing attention to these street plants.

Yuguchi Yoshiyuki wanted to find new ways to use these resources.

He teamed up with local councils to provide a design he calls "Urban Forestry."

Large branches are often trimmed right back,
so they don't produce over the street.

That leaves damage which rots.
The wood becomes unusable.

Yet some of the wood
is incredibly beautiful.

It's low volume, but I want
to use it where possible.

This is Machida in Tokyo.

Yuguchi's design lives inside this library.

It's a community space for locals to gather for a chat, or students to study for exams or hunt for books.

The furniture in this pleasant space is made from local street plants that were removed during the redevelopment of the train station.

This piece showcases the sheer variety of those plants.

These camphor tables were made by participants of a workshop held by Yuguchi.

He hopes to turn street plants from something to look at and occasionally prune, into a part of the local neighborhood.

There are so many fascinating trees
around us.

I hope to inspire people to notice them.

Another workshop saw locals come together to plant saplings.

Yuguchi hopes that Tokyo residents will care for the plants in their neighborhood, and fell and use their lumber in a new, green cycle.

We used a lot of zelkova wood
to build the furniture here.

Damaged trees sometimes fall
and cause accidents.

The ideal would be for locals to take part
in maintenance and use the wood.

Previously I didn't even
think about trees like this.

They were a vague,
very forgettable presence.

But working with them as if they were
your own teaches you so much.

How trimming can damage them,
for example.

A communication design guided by the overlooked resource of roadside plants.

What a wonderful way to draw attention to street planting.

And these benches we're sitting on right now came from roadside trees.

This is Yuguchi-san's work?

It is, yes.

Our benches are made from those trees, and so is Chiba-san's chair.

I'm impressed by the leap from roadside trees to making furniture!

Surprising, right?

Very much so.

And I love that he hasn't changed their shape.

They're beautiful.

We often see these plants being trimmed or cut down.

But we rarely stop and think about what happens to them afterwards.

I suppose it's easy to just assume that it's something the city will handle for us.

That's very true.

Like a service.

I think you're right.

But we should pay more attention.

It's a public space, and we should all be part of building it.

It's the same with roads, cycle lanes, and streets.

They're all public spaces but it takes an effort for us to claim them as our own.

And city government needs to reach out for opinions as well.

Both forms of communication are going to become vital as we move forward.

What about your Bicycle Highway?

I think it would look even more beautiful if there was some kind of street planting to protect it.

Beautiful autumn colors, and fallen leaves.

Regular architectural designs often don't consider ways to enjoy all four seasons!

That's true.

I guess not.

It would be wonderful if cyclists maintained their own space, looking after the environment that they enjoy.

A group activity for everyone to take part in.

I think it's work that would carry a lot of meaning.

So coming back to our topic today: Tokyo City Streets.

What were your impressions?

I think my biggest takeaway from our discussions is that we're looking at the urban environment as a resource.

So how do we use it?

Instead of building something new, let's look at what we have and find new value in it, something that will live on for a new generation.

That's a perspective we're going to need a lot more of moving forward.

Creativity in construction is vital, but there's creativity in usage as well.

And that's something I think is incredibly important.

I agree.

A street may be just a street, but it has a history, and a story.

Maybe it will become a tourist spot, maybe it will change how we move through Tokyo.

This is a mature city and that means we can always find ways to shape it towards our future.

There's still so much positive potential, and I think we can find new directions to grow in.

Thank you so much for speaking with us today.

I had great fun, thank you!

Let's meet again.

Thank you.