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Agents of Transformation and the "Death" of Urbanism Preeminence of the Decorated Shed Staging Uncertainty |
[2L5] NAGOYA’S NEW CITY.
 As I mentioned earlier, the
Aichi Expo 2005 will bring many changes to Greater Nagoya. A new international airport, a
new shinkansen railway, new local railways, a new urban expressway connected by
three large suspension cable bridges, and new bus systems will provide transportation to
all the events. General improvements have been planned for sites throughout the city, but
the port will experience the greatest transformation.
In 1987, the Nagoya Port Authority drafted a thirty-year long-range plan, highlighting three major goals: "(1) Increased promotion of international trade and upgrading of distribution facilities; (2) Helping the Nagoya Region further develop as a major center for sophisticated technology and industry; (3) Continued waterfront development to make the port a more attractive area to the public."75 The potentially contradictory nature of these goals raises a question: how does can a city grow and shrink its port simultaneously? In other words, how can Nagoya increase the prowess and sophistication of the trade and production facilities in its port, yet introduce new attractions for public enjoyment at the same time? The answer probably lies in the fact that the Japanese possess an uncanny ability to resolve and mediate conflict. Central to the plan is "a trade and distribution center and a maritime business and administrative headquarters all within a giant complex."76 This complex is to be constructed on Kinjo Pier, the island located at the heart of the port which I mentioned earlier. Not surprisingly, this complex will be located at a major new interchange, which will unite a local route with an international corridor. It would seem desirable, then, that such an interchange be provided with a diversity of functions and activities, conflicting or not. In fact, great potential exists in the juxtaposition of new work/live activities with existing industrial ones. The form that these functions will take, however, remains to be seen.
75Port of Nagoya: 1996-1997 (Nagoya: Nagoya Port Authority, 1996) p. 21 76Ibid., p. 21 Images: 1. Nagoya Regional Map Showing Projected Infrastructure (1997), 2. Kinjo Pier Future Development Map (1997) - future projects are shown on the right
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A Master's Thesis in Architecture at Rice University by Blaine Brownell. Copyright © 1998 by Blaine Brownell. All rights reserved. |
