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The International Program in Architecture and Urban Design (I-AUD), Architecture and Urbanism Program, Graduate School of Science and Technology, held the three-day International Joint Workshop from May 23 to 25 at Nakano Campus in collaboration with the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). This workshop is embedded into the I-AUD design seminar course Advanced Design Studio A, and is offered as part of the international practical education program. The first joint workshop with UNCC was held in 2019, and then resumed in the academic year of 2023 after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The third joint workshop was held with a view to developing further exchanges in the future, as an inter-university cooperation agreement between our university and UNCC is expected to be concluded soon.


A total of 50 students participated in the workshop. There were 27 first-year Master’s students and 3 faculty members from I-AUD, and 23 undergraduate and graduate students, and 3 faculty members from UNCC. Divided into eight mixed groups, the students worked on a design proposal for a temporary Tsukiji Outer Market covering a portion of the former Tsukiji Market site, a 115 m-long and 3 m-wide area along Namiyoke-dori street from Namiyoke Jinja shrine to Harumi-dori Street, in anticipation of the period until the redevelopment of the former Tsukiji Market site begins. In the proposal, each group was responsible for eight themes, including food, signboards, and eaves, and a field survey based on the theme was conducted to determine and analyze the spatial characteristics of Tsukiji Outer Market.

In the final review meeting on the last day of the workshop, after the proposals were presented, there was a lively exchange of opinions together with guest commentators. Although it was a short workshop lasting only three days, all the proposals were made with great drawings and models, and there was a sense of reward for the group work. After the review meeting, the venue moved to an okonomiyaki restaurant in Harajuku, where a social gathering was held with all the participants. Through the three-day intensive joint work and social gathering in English with mixed groups, students learned a lot and were able to deepen their relationship.


Prior to the workshop, on May 20, a PBL program was offered for UNCC students. The topic was the ongoing redevelopment project in the central area of Shibuya Station. At Shibuya Lifelong Active Network Shibukatsu! run by Shibuya City in Shibuya Hikarie, our university was introduced and the outline of the redevelopment project was explained. After that, they made a tour around the public spaces of the five completed street blocks. The project of the central area of Shibuya Station, which is Tokyo's leading large-scale redevelopment, also seemed to be interesting for UNCC students. They asked many questions and spent a productive time.


Furthermore, on May 28, following the completion of the workshop, a special lecture was delivered by Professor Chris Jarrett, the faculty member who brought over the UNCC group. This lecture was held as part of the monthly evening lectures open to the public at I-AUD, and as part of the Freshman's Day program in the academic year of 2024. Participants from both schools deepened exchanges at the reception after the lecture.


In the future, when the agreement is signed, we hope to expand the scope of cooperation by not only planning short-term workshops and PBL programs, but also planning parallel studios to visit each other at the campuses of both schools.

≪Japanese version≫