Tokyo’s Architecture And Transportation Coursework Assignment (Coursework Sample)

TOKYO’S ARCHITECTURE AND TRANSPORTATION
Name
Course
Tutor
Date
Introduction
In the ancient world, urban areas never used to exist. Instead, there used to be trade centers where people would literally meet to exchange goods. “A good example is the Mesopotamia that emerged as a center in 3000 B.C.” The existence of these trade centers attracted people to settle in the centers leading to the development of a different system of operation. “This system needed regulations to ensure it operates in an organized manner. Breaking this law led to punishment by the governing authority. Industrialization and civilization later made these centers to become larger due to intensified trade activities.”
The authorities were challenged to think of a way to facilitate the existence of the trade centers. These centers later emerged into towns, some of the towns later grew into bigger towns commonly known as cities. In the 1960s experts began to develop the theories of urbanization.” These theories were based on enhancing living and transportation in the towns to ease congestion and reduce delays in the delivery of goods to the markets. This aspect of urban planning is basically applied to the present age planning of urban areas.
By comprehensive definition, planning basically means “taking into consideration the necessary control measures and mechanisms to govern the implementation of an idea. Planning is the initial stage of development.” Considering urban planning and development, the measures that need to be taken into consideration include excellent architectural designing of houses, proper design of the traffic routes and well-formulated policies to oversee the actualisation of these plans. “Tokyo is a trending city in the world. This has not been achieved through marketing the town across the world but through effective planning of every structure before it is put up in the town.” This paper tackles the urban planning and development of Tokyo taking into consideration its architectural designs and transportation system.
Urban Planning and Development of Tokyo
The vision for planning the city of Tokyo was established in the year two thousand and one. The development plan was reviewed in two thousand and nine in order to meet the social, economic and economic factors that were prevailing at that particular time. “Major socioeconomic shifts, as well as declining population, necessitated the development of an urban development plan that is based on policies rather than one that is oriented towards improving infrastructure.”
The picture below shows the conceptual chart for the circular megalopolis structure of Tokyo city.


Tokyo’s urban development was based on sustainable goals and ideas that facilitated the growth of the city towards benefiting both current and the future generation. “Some of these goals and ideas included to create and diffuse the original urban culture, to enhance the realization of better quality environment in which people could live healthily and safely, to enhance the coexistence of an environment that would enable continuous prosperity, to encourage the participation of various stakeholders as well as the general public in actualizing the development plans, and develop and maintain economic dynamics that facilitate worldwide competitiveness.”
The picture below shows the circular megalopolis structure of Tokyo city. A keen look at the picture shows how the hoses are arranged in a radial manner.


The attainment of achieving the goal of developing Tokyo into a city that is internationally recognized is set for 2050. “The intermediate time target for the attainment of this goal is in 2025. The architectural design of Tokyo city is based on a circular form. This form of urban design is known as circular megalopolis structure.” This form of urban design and development enhances, among other factors, ease of access and division of land based on the nature of activities and the proximity to the central business district. This is attained through locating places of intense business activities closer to transportation terminals. This development plan was spearheaded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG).
The space Tokyo city is divided into five different sections based on the use assigned to each space. “These zones include Central core revitalization zone, Tokyo bay waterfront vitalisation zone, Urban environment revitalization zone, Nuclear city regional collaboration zone, and Natural environment preservation and utilization zone.” These spaces have different uses that strongly interrelate to make the design of this great city complete. “The organization of these spaces is a pure illustration of a sustainable design since it takes into consideration environmental conservation measures.”
The map below shows how different land uses in Tokyo have been distributed. The current developments are based on the land use policies that the TMG has stipulated.


The architectural plans are done with respect to the master plan developed for the city. “The master plan gives the expected view of what the city ought to look like in the future. This gives the planners as well as investors the expected form of designs, allocation of spaces, and the economic performance of the various locations.” The nature and types of buildings are important factors that help in designing other necessary infrastructure such as roads, railways, sewer lines, power lines, and water distribution lines.
The Tokyo Metropolitan government (TMG) stipulated four policies to make the actualisation of the goal to develop Tokyo into a better city a reality. These policies were formulated to ensure that every development on every piece of land adhered to the master plan design for the city. “The first policy was basically oriented towards designers’ adherence to the city’s master plan. It defines the regulations that govern the step-by-step design processes that are to be considered towards the attainment of the master city plan. It also serves as a foundation on which every individual city design is designed. The second policy is focused on the redevelopment of specific urban areas in the central business district. This policy is based on the Urban Renewal Law. It stipulates the measures and regulations for redeveloping the selected urban areas.”
The picture below shows the distribution of houses and integration of the road transport system closer to high activity areas (high rise buildings) to facilitate economic activities.


The third policy is based on the Law for special Measures to promote the supply of housing and housing lands in the urban districts. This policy facilitates the construction of modern residential houses in the city based on the foundation master plan. It stipulates the design, health, and safety measures that should be considered in the development of what the TMG refers to as good residential districts in the city of Tokyo. The fourth policy was established on the Law for promoting the improvement of disaster reduction blocks in concentrated urban areas. Since Tokyo is located in an area that is prone to earthquakes, this policy stipulates measures that should be considered in the architectural and structural design of houses. The application of these policies in design ensures that in the event a disaster occurs, the rate at which lives are lost and properties destroyed is reduced to the minimal possible value.
The park on the right-hand side of this picture shows a park that doubles as an environmental conservation zone and an evacuation area in the event a disaster occurs.


Different architectural designs are used to give different impressions about the city. “The waterfront district is attractive. This plays the role of welcoming visitors into the city. The tall structures are situated in the central business district where economic activities are very intense.” As the distance from the city’s core area increases, the height of buildings gradually decreases introducing the residential districts in the city. “The Outer most core of the city is made up of a natural environment. This signifies natural environment conservation. This assists the city to meet its goal of becoming a low-carbon city. Another representation of culture is met through the conservation of ancient buildings and locations of historic significance to the city. Such buildings and locations help in displaying the ancient architectural designs that were achieved in the nation in ancient times. For instance, the Tokyo station, the former residence of Count Ogasawara in Shinjuku Ward, and former residence of Iwasaki family in Tato Ward have been specifically preserved by the TMG policies on structures of historic value.”
This picture shows one of the buildings with historic value that have been conserved by the TMG. This is the former residence of Count Ogasawara in Shinjuku ward.


The redevelopment policy has been widely applied in the development of Marunouchi, Otemachi and Yurakucho districts. “The redevelopment in these districts is done according to the urban development guideline by the collaboration of public and private sectors.” The development is aimed at meeting the functional requirements such as maintaining and displaying culture, creating a high-quality business environment, and facilitating commercial activities. “In both the design and implementation, it is evident that an intensive effort has been made in ensuring the districts conserve the available historical scenes such as Meiji Seimei Building. Other renovation works in the area also includes the restoration of Tokyo Station Building.”
Aesthetic appe...