YOKOHAMA

RESTORATION OF DARKNESS

2006-01-23T17:33:32Z

On December 9th-10th, AA Intermediate Unit 3 collaborated with students from 9 universities around Tokyo in a workshop designed to restore darkness to Japanese cities. The workshop was led by Kaoru Mende of Lighting Detectives, LPA, and Musashino Art University, Kazuo Iwamura of Musashi Institute of Technology, and Natasha Sandmeier and Monia de Marchi of the Architectural Association.

Student participants were:

Architectural Association
Aseel Al Yaqoub (Kuwait)
Francesca Rogers (Italy)
Kanto Iwamura (Japan / Germany)
Kevin Cash (United States)
Maciej Woroniecki (Poland)
Martin Jameson (United Kingdom)
Miho Konishi (Japan)
Patrick Usborne (United Kingdom)
Sandra Del MIssier (United States)

Waseda University
Tomoko Sasaki (Japan)

Musashi Institute of technology
Tatsuto Nakajima (Japan)

Yokohama National University
Ai Oishi (Japan)
Ayaka Matsuda (Japan)

Musashino Art University
Momoko Takahashi (Japan)

Tokyo Institute of Technology
Ahin Kilhae (Korea)
Borivan Din (France)

Hosei University
Eriko Huchigami (Japan)

Shibaura Institute of Technology
Yuzuru Takanohashi (Japan)

University of Tokyo
Motoyo Ogawa (Japan)

workshop documents

2006-01-22T22:02:05Z

After a little wait whilst collecting and editing each groups Restoration of Darkness presentations, four documents have been created illustrating the reasearch, and solutions into restoring darkness in Yokohama City.

Below is a snap-shot of some of the work carried out by each group with a description of what the detectives were investigating and solving. The full pdf documents can be read by emailing usborne_pa@aaschool.ac.uk (combined document size; 8Mb)

Group A Waterfront

2006-01-21T22:23:47Z

The waterfront immediately in front of the workshop was used by Group A to investigate light qualities in the area. The teams research was through finding the light intensities and also carrying out a survey investigating human interactivity especially amoung the younger couples passing through the area.

With the data collected, various proposals were put forward, including the idea of combining paving lights with vending machine lights and scattering the water with a form taken from a local flower which would create patterns of light on neigbouring buildings.

Group B Basha-michi

2006-01-21T21:37:29Z

Group B initially studied the light levels and types being emitted along the major shopping street in Yokohama City, Basha-michi. The investigation was extensive and enabled the team to propose two solutions to combating light and restoring darkness.

The first was to install translucent fabric screens infront of lights which were particularly bright, thus dampening their effect. The second was a subtle concept concentrated in the dark alleys of the city where the floors would be covered in reactive lights; only switching on when a user walked by.

Group C Ferry Terminal

2006-01-21T20:46:43Z

Group C headed to the Ferry Terminal to record light levels. Even here, light was abundently recorded in various forms and colours. After recording the light intensities around the terminal the team proposed two solutions.

The first was concentrated on the terminal itself where the team proposed reconfiguring the lighting layout to more closely follow the uses and routes of the surrounding landscape, thus enabaling minimal light wastage.

The second was looking at the city itself and the view through to the Ferry Terminal. The team found it was important to restore 'avenues' of darkness from major locations in the city looking out to the water and the Ferry Terminal.

Group D ChinaTown

2006-01-21T19:57:50Z

Group D's brief as with the other groups, was to become light detectives for the weekend, looking and recording lux values in ChinaTown. In a team, various photos were taken along with many lux readings to give a clear picture of the severe breach of lighting levels in the area. Lights of all forms and of all colours were seen, competing with each other for space.

The teams proposal was to strip away these unwanted lights to restore a better balance between the need to have lights and restoring darkness to the streets. Through research, a proposal of which lights should be kept was outlined. However, if this proposal failed, sunglasses were thought of.