Sustainable Typo-morphology for Residential Areas: A Comparative Study between Tokyo and Madrid

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24760502
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Town planning/Architectural planning
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: ALMAZAN Jorge 慶應義塾大学, 理工学部, 講師 (80555102)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2014-03-31
• Keywords: 建築設計 / 都市設計 / 公共空間 / タイポ・モルフォロジー

Research Abstract

By comparing cases of residential areas in Madrid and Tokyo we address the relationship between several residential typo-morphologies and public space vitality. In Tokyo we examined cases of high-rise areas, and dense low-rise areas of detached houses. In Madrid we examined the medium-rise perimeter block suburban ensanches (meaning "city extensions"). As a conclusion we observed that the high-rise cases examined do not seem to contribute to urban liveliness compared to adjacent public spaces. Low-rise areas create a more clear sense of liveliness but they need to be reconsidered in the light of the need for higher population densities. The medium-rise scale found in Madrid increases density, but it lacks the architectural interface design at the street level to support liveliness. This research includes samples of designs that attend to these interfaces and can be considered as examples that enable the natural emergence of public life on the streets.