Studio-X and TUS won the gold medal in the Obuse 7-University Competition 2012 !
<About Obuse 7-University Workshop 2012>
The Obuse 7-University Workshop 2012 was held on November 11th at Obuse town in Nagano prefecture. The seven university teams came from both east and west Japan and the United States, and included the University of Tokyo, Waseda University, Tokyo University of the Arts, Y-GSA of Yokohama National University, Osaka City University, Chiba Institute of Technology, and a joint team of Tokyo University of Science and Studio-X at Columbia University. Each team spent two days of intensive research in Obuse, and proposed projects for Machizukuri (urban development) based on their investigations. The teams then presented for competition on the third day. Proposals were to propose design solutions to reinvigorate Obuse’s various sites, and to speculate how similar methods could be deployed in small towns and villages across the country and around the world.
The teams proposed a variety of solutions around Machizukuri, such as utilizing vacant houses as training facilities with student housing, and creating new scenery by using the town’s numerous existing waterways.
The TUS-Studio X team proposed projection mapping at historic sites to provide public lighting and community space. Seeing that the town has a population of about 11,000 but is visited annually by 1 million day-trippers, the team found an opportunity to extend the hours of the day when people would enjoy the space. The proposal would provide evening light to the town’s dark streets while simultaneously creating gathering spaces around outdoor events. Over three nights, the team performed its concept: a site-specific visual projection and soundtrack to map the changing seasons onto a historic building. The projection mapping illuminated the life story of the building in its natural setting, while provoking participatory imaginings about the site’s future. A series of similar projections was then proposed for other historic buildings and public spaces in Obuse, creating a path of light, leading individuals or groups to experience the town through discovery. The proposal was recognized for its potential to aid regional development, and was awarded first place. The team from Osaka City University won second place for re-designing vacant houses.
The workshop was the first of its kind to propose design ideas for the future of small towns in Japan. All the teams worked round-the-clock for three days, making this workshop very exciting and ultimately productive.