Ryotaro Urai
project.4
FOODHALL koya
Food hall "eka" that conveys the charm of Koya's traditional crafts
Space design / 2021 / KOYASAN
Koyasan has given birth to numerous ideas over the 1,200 years since its founding. Here, there is a culture of religion and lifestyle nurtured by monks and people who support each other. However, due to the progress of aging and depopulation, there is a shortage of people who inherit Buddhism and the traditional crafts that support it. I want to protect the living culture that has been handed down from generation to generation by "craftsmen who do exquisite handwork", which has become a rare existence.
Therefore, we will use a part of the Koyasan University building, which is biased toward single-function services and is a space separated from the townscape, to create a space where craftsmen who are involved in the inheritance of traditional crafts, food, and forestry will be responsible for the future of the region. We propose the creation of a platform that connects children and contributes to the development of successors to traditional industries. Specifically, the goal is to set up a “manufacturing studio” where children and craftsmen can foster their creativity together, and to create a foundation for new businesses and indigenous entrepreneurs centered on them.
プレイスメイキングの実践内容
Better Life Terrace開催期間中、研究室は団地内外の多様な活動を支援するための可変型仮設什器「クミカグ」を会場に設置した。単管パイプと木板を組み合わせたこの什器を用いて、小規模マルシェ形式の販売ブースを構築し、地元の5店舗による物販が行われた。
プレイスメイキングの効果／考察
千里ニュータウンの事例では、従来空きビルであった場所に多様な人々が集い交流する場を立ち上げるうえで、クミカグが重要な役割を果たした。出店者からは「自由にレイアウトできるので助かる」「空間に合わせて形を変えられるので一体感が出る」といった評価が聞かれ、会場デザインの柔軟性がイベント運営側・参加者双方に創造的な余地を与えていたことがわかる。千里NTは高度経済成長期に造成された大規模ニュータウンであり、現在高齢化やコミュニティの希薄化といった課題を抱えるが、本実践はそうした地域においても住民主体の新たな活動の場をサポートし得ることを示した。