Architecture and urban design
from Keio's Faculty of Science and Technology Designing spaces that create encounters and liveliness

Revitalizing regional towns through
the power of architectural design

Currently, various town development projects in various forms are being set up by the residents of regional Japanese towns. In order to restore the liveliness of aging towns with a declining population, having a “place” that acts as a center to foster a sense of community is important. Almazán, who has studied cities around the world, is contributing to new developments in these towns through architectural design.

“I think there will be a lot of demand to design for activities from now on” says Almazán. For projects in regional towns in particular, there is a need for public spaces that foster a sense of community and help revitalize the region. What kinds of designs will realize this?
In urban research up to now, it has been said that in order for public spaces to attract people and create liveliness, the design has to invite people to sit and stay. However, there are few public spaces where one can stay outside sitting in public space in Japan. Almazán attempted to observe the activities of Japanese people on site when they were provided with a public space where they could sit and spend time.
The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture), a popular tourist spot, was selected as the location to carry out the experiment. There are shops and restaurants inside the building and it is bustling with people, but the central plaza outside is not used and is often empty. So, 300 moveable chairs were placed in this space. These were chairs used in schools that were no longer needed, colorfully painted at a workshop in which the public could participate to give these pieces of furniture a second life. Unique and attractive chairs were made on a low budget, and these were allowed to be placed anywhere in the plaza (see left photo).
This experiment was conducted in January 2016, and even though it was in the middle of winter, many people sat on the chairs as they wished to enjoy their time, and the space bustled with people. Video recordings of the day were made and the activities of the people were analyzed in detail.
Almazán uses the findings from his research, including those from this experiment, in the designs of actual projects. We will now introduce one of his representative town development projects.

The above photo and drawing are those of the sake brewery on the grounds of the “Former Futabaya Sake Brewery,” a tangible cultural property in the town of Ichikawamisato in Yamanashi Prefecture, which was repaired and converted into a gallery. It was jointly designed with “Ichikawa map no kai,” a local town development organization, with the aim of creating a base for revitalizing the region. Stepping stones are placed between the main building and the stage of the gallery to connect them and allow a variety of activities to take place inside and outside the gallery.
“The chosen site was an old sake brewery from the Edo period, but it was structurally sound and there were no dangers or problems. We could have demolished and constructed a new building, but demolition cost is also high, so we recommended that they renovate and use the original building.” He says that he showed various proposals through models and worked with the townspeople on the design.
The most distinctive feature of this project is the stage that extends from the inside of the brewery to its exterior, but this was not originally planned. It came about from the discussions that took place. After the opening of the facility, various events such as noh plays have frequently been held. It is also popular as a wedding party venue. “I am very happy to have contributed to the region. I can feel the power of architecture,” says Almazán with a smile.

Currently, in Europe and Japan, more importance is placed on renovation, including maintaining and restoring buildings, than on new constructions. Almazán says that this is expanding the role of architects. “I feel that we need to play a role similar to that of social activists, being involved in the operation and management of communities and proposing solutions to regional issues after examining these by ourselves.”
For this reason, Almazán is developing activities at his own laboratory under the 3 pillars of “social action,” “research,” and “learning.”
In particular, Almazán emphasizes the importance of “learning.” “There are many people who think about research and educational programs separately, but I think about them together. This is why I use the word ‘learning’ instead of ‘education.’”
It is my hope that students learn many things while working on actual projects. The efforts made by architects open to learning and not bound by outdated architectural frameworks, will produce energetic projects and lead them to success.

I was born in Alicante, a city in the Valencia region. It is a city facing the Mediterranean Sea and a tourist destination. The weather is nice all year round, and everyone relaxes on the beautiful beaches. You can also eat the best paella in Spain.
It is a compact city with various other features. We have a university, and it is also a cultural center with many exhibitions and events taking place.

I loved to draw and read. I was a boy who liked art, and I even made a movie (short film). I wanted to draw every day, and I did think about a career as an artist, but I also had a strong desire to be involved with society and people, so in the end I chose architecture.
　To design a building, there are things like laws and regulations, structural calculations, and installations that you must learn, but art is also a factor, and most of all, architecture is it’s a collaborative effort that involves many people.

I learned about German architecture and cities at Darmstadt, but I also wanted to learn about non-European architecture. Japanese architects are popular internationally. Many young architects around the world have learned from works such as those by Kenzo Tange, Kisho Kurokawa, Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, and Kazuyo Sejima. I don’t know how much the Japanese people are aware of this, but Japanese architectural design is top-class in the world.
While I was thinking about studying in Japan, I happened to meet Kazuyo Sejima at a workshop. When I found the courage to consult her about studying in Japan, she helped me with my application for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship, and 2 years later, I was admitted to Professor Yoshiharu Tsukamoto’s laboratory at Tokyo Institute of Technology as a research student. I gained good experience at Professor Tsukamoto’s laboratory, as I got to do practical work including taking part in design competitions and being involved in designs.

What surprised me the most was the lack of public spaces. There are no benches or urban squares. When I asked Japanese researchers why there are no urban squares in Japan, most of them said “cultural difference.” They say that “interior spaces are more suitable for Japanese people than expansive outdoor spaces,” but if you look at ukiyo-e pictures of Nihonbashi during the Edo period, isn’t it bustling with people? People have also said “because there are mosquitoes,” but there are mosquitoes in Spain and Italy too (laughs).
Japanese tourists sightseeing around European towns seem to enjoy open cafes and relaxing in town squares. I think that the lack of open spaces in Japan is not a cultural issue, and this led to an experiment at the plaza in front of the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (see introduction of research).

I find zakkyo buildings (multi-tenant buildings) very interesting. There are no zakkyo buildings in Europe. In European commercial areas, shops are located on the 1st floor, but in zakkyo buildings, restaurants may be on the 7th floor, which feels very strange to me. When you examine various zakkyo buildings, you begin to see a typology.
In terms of cities, we focused on commercial areas centering on stations. If you look at areas within a 5-minute walk or a 500-meter radius from a station, you will find that they are made up of several matching elements such as side streets, entertainment districts, and shopping areas. You will see this same pattern at any station, whether it’s Shibuya, Ikebukuro, or Shinjuku, and we can say that this is so because the city is responding to the social need for a space that overlaps living and commercial spaces.
I think that comprehending Tokyo’s energy from the perspective of things that “exist in Japan but not in Europe” has allowed me to carry out research that has originality.

There is a concept called “glocal” that tries to realize localness through global means, but I like the word “translocal” in the sense of learning from many localities.
In the “Former Futabaya Sake Brewery” project, I introduced the localness of spaces like plazas in my hometown of Alicante that I had learned while growing up there to a different locale in Yamanashi Prefecture (see introduction of research). In Yamanashi Prefecture, they have their own materials and craftspeople. So, we have to come up with a concept that makes use of these materials and skills. But more than that, by thinking about things with an attitude of learning from the two locales, you will be able to get “translocal” inspirations.
We used traditional Japanese materials for the building, but a Mediterranean mindset can be seen in the program being developed there. I think it’s okay to open up various possibilities in a space rather than being narrow-minded, saying it must be this way because it’s in Japan, or it must be that way because it’s in Spain.

What are your impressions of Keio University as a faculty member?
The Faculty of Science and Technology seems to have a warm culture. Again, it’s all about human relationships. The administrative staff and other faculty members are all very kind. Without such relationships, I think it would be very difficult for foreign faculty members to get by.
In addition, what I feel while carrying out research is the good reputation that Keio University has in society. Even when you meet people for the first time, including public and civic organizations, they are willing to talk to you when they hear the name of the university.

Keio University has a history of having great architects such as Shigeru Ban, Kengo Kuma, and Kazuyo Sejima teach at the university while working as architects. Currently, education and research related to architecture are carried out at the Faculty and Graduate School of Science and Technology (Yagami Campus), Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Faculty of Policy Management, and Graduate School of Media and Governance (Shonan Fujisawa Campus: SFC). In 2018, “Keio Architecture,” an education and research base jointly operated by these faculties and graduate schools was established. It is organized in a way that allows 12 faculty members to closely work together to drive the creation of new architectural designs that conform to world standards. Regardless of which faculty students are enrolled at, they are eligible to take the examination for 1st-class architect certification.

Developing your passion is very important. If you like something, please spend time to get better at it. From there, you will be able to find your research theme or discover your design style.
Architecture has a clearer social orientation than art. It also costs money. So, even students have to be aware that they are members of society and act responsibly. I would like to see all of them become architects who passionately contribute to society.

● I studied abroad at the Technical University of Madrid for about three months. I felt reassured because I got a lot of support from Associate Professor Almazán. He is very organized and supports our thesis and research projects with great care. We are close with him so it is easy to consult him on even minor issues. There are many overseas students in his laboratory so it has an international atmosphere. (1st-year master’s student)
●I am happy that in addition to theoretical research, we get to work on actual projects with the support of his laboratory. When students propose research themes and designs, he focuses on the good parts and gives us advice, allowing us to develop these further. Things don’t always go as planned, but he is very patient and gives us time to work things out. (1st-year doctoral student from the University of Alicante)
●I was very surprised when I first met him because he knew more about Japanese history and urban planning than Japanese people. He brings to light things we would tend to overlook because it just feels so normal, from a fresh, international perspective, so that we can make new discoveries. His explanations when comparing various cities around the world are easy to understand, and he has encouraged me to think about Japanese cities from a much broader perspective. (3rd-year doctoral student)