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.