Suita City to demolish modernist building
The Senri Newtown Civic Center Building in Suita City, Osaka, will be demolished next spring as growing maintenance costs put a strain on local city finances.
The modernist structure was designed by architect Togo Murano (1891 - 1984) who was widely regarded as one of Japan's Modern Masters. It was completed in 1964, just two years after the Senri Newtown area was developed. Murano also designed an extension that was made to the building in 1976.Read more
Redevelopment difficulties for 'non-compliant' apartments
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) estimates that there are 5.9 million condominium apartments across Japan. One in four people in Tokyo live in a condominium, while approximately 20% of residents in Osaka and Kyoto live in one. Of these apartments, 1.06 million are in buildings that were built to the older earthquake codes (kyu-taishin). The current codes (shin-taishin) were introduced in 1981. Over the next 10 years, the number of apartments over 40 years old is expected to quadruple, creating an overwhelming number of ageing and deteriorating buildings. Yet, there have only been 180 cases of reconstruction to date.
One residential building currently facing an uncertain future is Toa Parkside Castle in Tokyo's Ota-ku. Located in a commercial district just two minutes from Omori Station, the 14 storey kyu-taishin building was completed in 1971, making it 42 years old. There are 94 apartments and a total floor area of 6,360 sqm.Read more
The last Dojunkai to be demolished in June
While the 84-year old Uenoshita Apartments in Tokyo's Taito-ku may have miraculously survived the Great Tokyo Air Raid in 1945, it is not immune from re-development as the wrecking ball is set to swing on the apartment building next month.Read more
Former Jonas Residence in Kobe facing possible demolition
The Jonas Residence in Shioya-cho, Tarumi-ku, Kobe, may soon be demolished and replaced with a 10-storey apartment building.
The 2-storey waterfront residence was built in 1919 for British trader Frederick/Frank Maurice Jonas. It was later sold to Mr. Sakunosuke Yamada, a lawyer for Kawasaki Heavy Industries.Read more
Redevelopment planned for Shibuya city office
Moves are underway to rebuild the Shibuya City Office buildings after it was discovered that they would be at risk of falling over in an earthquake that produced a shindo level of upper-6 (read about the Japanese seismic intensity scale here).
At a press conference held on February 12, Shibuya ward mayor, Toshitake Kuwahara, announced that they hope to decide on a budget for the project during the 2014 financial year. The buildings are currently below the maximum allowable building size for the site, so the local council hopes that the availability of additional space will help to reduce their own redevelopment costs.Read more
Former town hall in Gifu to be demolished
The former Kanohonmachi Town Hall in Gifu City will be demolished due to ageing and deterioration.
The two-storey reinforced-concrete building was completed in 1926 at an estimated cost of 60,000 Yen. Read more