Q: How can the value of residential area development be added?
A: One way is to have the residential units with unique architecture for the specific target.
In the eastern part of Fukuoka City, there is a reclaimed area called Kashiihama, and it has apartment complex designed by six world famous architects with the coordination of a Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki, and this unique architecture complex attracts those who were bored with apartment complex built in conservative way, even it has passed 30 years since the completion.
Residential Area Development – Nexus World in Kashiihama
Newly developed residential areas compete on height, or commuting convenience, amenities available in nearby but also on unique architecture for a specific target. There is an example to be able to be seen in Fukuoka City – Kashiihama.
During 1950s and 60s, Fukuoka City experienced rapid increase of population with urbanization, thus some of the coastal areas of the city were reclaimed to meet the demand and to be used as residential areas during 1960s and 70s. And Kashiihama was one of them.
In Kashiihama, a land operator appointed a famous Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki, to coordinate in building apartment complex called Nexus World, designed by six world-renowned architects -- Rem Koolhaas, Steven Holl, Mark Mack, Christian de Portzamparc, Oscar Tusquets and Osamu Ishiyama in late 1980s and the complex completed in 1992. Each building in Nexus World is named after an architect and it was was one of the first projects in Japan, emphasizing the names of the architects. Even though thirty years passed, the area still creates peculiar atmosphere created by these unique buildings. And this attracted those who were bored with apartment complex built in conservative way.
Here, child-raising generation can be noticed easier than other conventional Japanese housing complexes, where the senior generation is more noticeable. The atmosphere created by the architectures can attract younger generations with creative mind, and this gives the area a vibrancy.
The area is now connected to the city center by fifteen minutes by car using the highway, and it is adjacent to other newly developing areas, such as Island City and Chihaya, and Kashii Area having been developed as a renowned shrine town since the 8th century. Fukuoka City is one of few cities in Japan that the population is increasing. This eastern part of the city is expected to develop with the contribution of each area using its unique characteristics.
[Case ID: Urban Renewal UR-11]