a plan for tokyo bay, 1960

In 1960, with the rise in suburbanization surrounding the city of Tokyo and the growing need for a daily commute, traffic and congestion were rapidly increasing. Major cities like Tokyo, which has a radial structure, cannot be functional with such a large and still growing population (over 10 million). Many cities that have a central focus (a civic hub) expand freely in a radial pattern, however, the bay prohibits the growth of the city of Tokyo to the southeast.



KENZO TANGE proposed a utopian city plan (allowing for 15 million inhabitants) that would span across Tokyo Bay on a central axis. The foundation of the plan was a network of expressways: a transportation system for direct communication throughout the city. Branching from the three-level expressway system are residential units and office buildings.

expansion over water

(proposed plan for tokyo bay)

(port of genoa)

These are both port cities whose growth has potential to grow/extend over the water. The tokyo proposal is much more intense and massive because direct transportation and living will occur suspended midair. This bridge network creates a new possibility for the entire city. Renzo Piano's proposals for the port of Genoa include moving industry, the airport, and storage containers out onto manmade islands. The direct transportation in this case would be routed through a tunnel underneath the mouth of the port. The manmade island would simply be a better use of space. However, both plans include monorail transportation, which is much more environmentally aware and allows many people to travel rapidly (like a subway system above ground.

semester goodies

Continuing in the architecture program at Clemson, I expect that this year will be more challenging (in more ways than just being the forth-year studio) than the previous years. After studying in Genoa, I was able to incorporate and address different cultural needs that were present in the city as well as Italian cities in general. I think that web communication will be similar to my semester abroad in that a new language will be infused. Communication through the internet will surely prove to be challenging, especially to me, because I have not proven to be very computer savvy (and that during last semester i didn't use ANY design programs). However, I see the importance of online communication in the job world and I understand how powerful images and presentations can be if they are done well. I see this semester as a perfect opportunity to master graphic design and digital presentation online, which will greatly increase my ability to put out an awesome portfolio. I hope that this class will boost my confidence and teach me how to create a powerful portfolio to apply to graduate school. I know that this is going to be a demanding 4 months, but I can't wait.