Adaptive (Re)use of Housing in Japan
Architect in Residence, Space Department Nara
With a rising ageing population, a decline in resources and the global climate crisis, the existing housing stock has become increasingly important. During a period of two months, the residence Space Department Nara functioned as a platform to collectively draw, reflect and discuss the potential of adaptive reuse as a strategy to redesign existing neighborhoods in Japan. What can we learn from architectural strategies that include cycles of change, use and incremental transformation? How can architecture overcome the predicament of mass-produced housing?
This project proposes to challenge mass-produced housing by drawing inspiration from traditional building methods, local dwelling narratives and recent case-study projects in Japan that argue to reuse the existing building stock. The publication and exhibition is funded by Creative Industries Fund NL (June-July 2024).