2008
Output
Workshop Flow
"Yokohama Epsilon City"――Research, Brainstorming and Project
This workshop had three stages.
[Stage 1] Analyzing Yokohama――Research
[Stage 2] Extracting Issues and Contents――Analysis and Discussion
[Stage 3] Proposing Strategy――Project
How can Yokohama be examined from the viewpoint of tourism? We first analyzed from various angles the coastal area from the Shinko district to the Yamashita Pier district and compared it with other cities. Using these data as parameters, we superimposed them and, through brainstorming, extracted the principal elements (main argument) with the potential to promote tourism in Yokohama.
1. Cosmopolitan
2. Creativity
3. Gateway to Japan
4. Waterfront landscape
5. Communication system and technology
Furthermore, we cited four principal sources of power (main driver) that will drive Yokohama in the future, based on these data and the extracted issues.
1. Cruiser
2. Conferences, corporate fairs
3. Culture and events
4. Creative talent
We propose a way in which tourism can change and drive Yokohama by creating a network along the transverse axis relative to three piers and opening the piers to the city.
[Stage 1] Extracting the principal elements of tourism.
The Kannai and Minato Mirai districts and their surroundings are an area with a truly complex context in which districts of diverse character, historical circumstances and urban policies intermingle.
By comparing it with other Asian cities with waterfronts and using the 50-item survey data as parameters, we identified five urban qualities: cosmopolitan, creativity, gateway to Japan, waterfront landscape, and communication system.
This is Yokohama's tourism potential, the notable issues (or main argument).
Five urban elements
1. Cosmopolitan
Diverse histories and cultures are mixed together, as in Minato Mirai, Noge, Kannai, Isezakicho, Chinatown and Kotobukicho, and pedestrian paths at right angles to the coastline and multiple railways parallel to the coastline connect the entire district.
2. Creativity
Diverse creative facilities such as historic buildings and offices for artists form creative districts along axes at right angles to the coastline on Nihon Odori and Bashamichi.
3. Gateway to Japan
Yokohama has a history as a gateway for foreign tourists and culture. Many commercial and dining facilities related to the tourist industry as well as historic resources that entered Japan through Yokohama in the past exist here.
4. Waterfront landscape
Inland axes and vista points that are visually continuous with the waterfront are scattered here. Commercial facilities, public facilities and cultural facilities coexist, creating diverse scenes in the waterfront landscape.
5. Communication system and technology
Yokohama has great potential as a foundation for communication systems and technology. There are diverse support systems that can make full use of commercial facilities and convenience stores that are open 24 hours a day and the interstices between buildings (sleeping potential).
[Stage 2] Analysis and Discussion: The proposed future image and the principal sources of urban power (main driver) that can be directed to the realization of that image.
Annual fluctuation in tourists visiting Yokohama at present, divided into day visitors and overnight visitors, as well as number of foreign tourists.
Annual number of visitors to Yokohama
Proposed increased and stable number of visitors
The present proposal is a project to stabilize the number of visitors throughout the year and, at the same time, to strengthen international tourism, as shown below.
Conditions of climate and transportation in Yokohama and mapping data acquired through research and the principal elements (main argument) extracted from that information were put into order during brainstorming in Stage 2, and the principal sources of power (main driver) for this project were cited.
Cruiser: Will function as a gateway for tourists from abroad. Conferences and corporate fairs
Will make use of spaces for international conferences and large exhibitions and expand places for business communication.
Culture and events: Will recognize culture that entered Yokohama, culture that developed in Yokohama, and make Yokohama a festival city throughout the year.
Creative talent: Will aim to make Yokohama a creative, international city by becoming an international center of intellectual production through high standard of technical skills.
In the project "Epsilon City", a place where these four sources of power will demonstrate Yokohama's potential, was proposed.
Toward a City that Draws Creative People from All over the World
[Stage 3] Project: Epsilon City, "y (epsilon)" opens and connects the city
Each place makes the most of its special character,
Networks,
Expands areally,
Epsilon City exerts a powerful attraction on diverse things
It nurtures Yokohama's identity
The three meanings of "y (epsilon)"
y: Yokohama
y: A new generation born around 2000. 2000 is a watershed year.
y: Line drawn on Yokohama's urban area by this project.
As a place of trade and communication, Yokohama has from long ago been regarded as an industrial port and the gateway to Japan. In the twenty-first century, this gateway will continue to have an impact on, and help break through various existing barriers in, urban life.
Yokohama has diverse spaces and attractions but its potential has not yet been fully tapped. We therefore propose the "Epsilon City" project.
"Epsilon City" is the overall image of this workshop project--the image of a new Yokohama that is powerful, dynamic yet friendly, added to Yokohama's present identity, for the sake of the future.
This project is organized around seven sites and imagines a city that is easily accessed by people from overseas and the creative class. We noted the excellent human resources and waterfront in present-day Yokohama and believe public spaces and a network that are more pleasant are needed. We cite three major themes for their development.
1. Creative Talent: Yokohama Design
2. Leisure: Cosmopolitan Leisure
3. Urban Landscape: Green Epsilon
1. "y" Epsilon + Creative Talent: Yokohama Design
This is a proposal for the reorganization of Yamashita Pier by means of a terminal that is a gateway for those from overseas, strategic centers for culture and creative industries, and incubation facilities for making Yokohama more competitive vis-a-vis cities in the rest of the world. This proposal integrates landscape design-like methods based on the manipulation of topography with architecture. The old waterfront, which depended on harbor functions, was off-limits for most people, but, by means of a series of hills, facilities will be accommodated while traffic routes are provided, assuring public access to waterside spaces.
The facilities, which will make maximum use of the FAR potential of land at the head of piers will include: high-rise buildings that will serve as new landmarks will accommodate incubation facilities intended to make Yokohama more competitive vis-a-vis other cities; offices, research centers, exhibition centers, learning facilities and related housing, terminals and commercial facilities for cultural and creative industries and advanced technologies. Everyone will be able to enter the series of hills where these activities will develop; these hills will be continuous with the existing urban areas.
Overall perspective
Plans and program
Interior perspective
2. "y" Epsilon + Leisure: Cosmopolitan Leisure
We propose expanding Shinko Pier and creating a waterside place that can accommodate large urban events. A survey suggests more tourists could be staying overnight in the city. Tourists would enjoy longer stays in Yokohama, and many more tourists would come to the city if large events were to take place. The site in Shinko Pier is in the center of the Minato Mirai district and is the area closest to the sea. The idea is to change the pier into a new form that can accommodate large events which take advantage of the proximity of the sea.
A new, square configuration that utilizes the present form of the pier is assumed, and a number of channels are created. The result is a unique configuration in which a series of small, connected piers form a large pier. Events on the water that use a number of hard beaches and boat harbors are also possible. A large dome is in the center and serves a support function for the entire facility. The streets from the Kannai district are extended; bus transport, cycling roads and pedestrian ways are planned; and a boarding area for water buses is situated at the tip of the pier. These transportation networks will connect the area to other districts of Yokohama.
Form of new pier
Various events are held, and transportation networks are created
Sea and land are used as one
3. "y" Epsilon + Urban Landscape: Green Epsilon
This is a plan to develop in an integrated way the waterfront centered on the Minato Mirai and Kannai districts while maintaining their current urban functions. In the present waterfront, districts with different characteristics are mixed together but are not interrelated. Excellent public spaces such as Rinko Park, Yamashita Park, Yokohama Stadium and Osenbashi exist in the area, but they too are unrelated to one another.
We propose the development of a new urban infrastructure to connect these public spaces. We have named the new urban infrastructure that will connect public spaces "Green Line." "Green Line" combines a pedestrian path with a cycling road. Cycling stations will be arranged at 75-meter intervals in order to make the most of the cycling road.
Overall perspective
