Building social change after the earthquake

In 2011, the devastation of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami forced Japanese architects to rethink their understanding of architecture at a fundamental level to consider closely societys systems and the affect buildings had on not only the life of, but also the psyche of the people.

What role should architects play from now on? From what perspective should they envision the future? These were questions that inevitably brought into scope more focus on energy and environment.

Architecture since 3.11 at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, explores Japanese architectural trends that evolved after March 2011, introducing the endeavors of 25 architectural offices who continue to challenge and review the architects role. It includes an easy-to-assemble set of refugee-shelter partition curtains by Shigeru Ban; an emergency evacuation map designed by citizens in collaboration with volunteers from architectural design company Nikken Sekkei; and images of the Realtokyoestate, an estate agents that bridges the gap between architectural practice and property. Architectural historian Taro Igarashi and community designer Ryo Yamazaki, the exhibitions two curators, explain the background to this unconventional architectural show.

Since March 2011, what do you think has been the most significant change in the general approach of architects?

Taro Igarashi: I would say that the focus of the architects shifted from designing forms to connecting to society.

In the past, after earthquakes struck, the architectural community addressed issues such as strengthening construction, enhanced fireproofing and increasing earthquake-resistance standards. But this time, it has started to pay a great deal of attention to social connections.

After the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (1995), architects discovered that one of the problematic consequences was the number of people who died solitary deaths in temporary housing. They learned that we should pay attention to community. At an early stage after 3/11, many architects from outside Tohoku Prefecture went the affected areas to become involved with community problems. Those architects recognized the need to seriously consider a software approach that involved links between people, or connections between people and cities, rather than simply spending more money on making stronger hardware (rebuilding structures and reinforcing them).

Not only this, but the role of the architect is changing from designing forms to designing relationships. Architecture since 3.11 is focused on such new activities.

Ryo Yamazaki: I am based in Kansai, and after Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, few architects in Kansai were asked to design or plan the reconstruction projects. I suspect that architects were regarded as the people to approach for special flamboyant buildings, not for emergency structures needed after a disaster.

This (preconception) urged young architects in Kansai to play a more crucial role in society by tackling community problems; (there was a desire) to wipe out an image of architects that dates back to the bubble economy.

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Building social change after the earthquake