When the public bath(On-sen) was closed at the heisei no mori temporary housing area in minami sanriku the residents found themselves in need of a replacement. Hiroto Kobayashi of Keio University was invited to create a two phase project with his students to satisfy that need.
The first phase will include a community meeting place with a small bath area, and the second phase will include the bath house (on sen).
One of the challenges facing reconstruction efforts in the areas is a marked lack of carpenters and of sophisticated materials and equipment. To overcome that challenge the structure of both phases of the project is formed from plywood panels that can be cut on site and assembled without special skills and using only basic tools and hardware, including hammers, nails, and saws. The entire project can be prepared and assembled by un-skilled volunteer labor and by the residents themselves.
The first phase of the project has already begun on site with financial support of the Environmental Innovators Program at Keio University and is expected to be complete by February 2012. The second phase is expected to begin in early spring of 2012 with help from architecture for humanity tokyo chapter and will be run by a local organization afterwards.
donations for the project are very welcome.
Architecture for Humanity Tokyo is the Tokyo chapter of the design-based, charitable disaster response organisation Architecture for Humanity.
Currently, our main objective is to facilitate collaboration among Japanese and international designers, architects and planners contributing to the long-term revitalisation of Japan's tsunami-affected Tohoku region in the aftermath of March 11 2011.
We embrace the viewpoints of activists, citizen groups and professionals, active in Tohoku communities, throughout Japan and around the world, to foster the exchange of ideas, best practice experiences and the provision of practical support.
In recognition that other communities around the world have faced similar reconstruction issues, we have initiated the Tohoku Planning Forum project that aims to leverage international experience and enable mutual learning.
We provide a platform for socially responsible design advocacy; partnering design professionals with local non-profit organisations, schools, government agencies and community groups, we create innovative, sustainable, affordable solutions to humanitarian issues.
You can follow our activities on Twitter under @AFTtyo.
Our Tohoku Planning Forum is on Twitter as @TPFsquare or on the web under www.tpf2.net
