A SMALL PLAZA AND A STREETSCAPE IN KUROMON-CHO, PART 2 — TRANSFORMATION OF A PRIVATE SITE INTO A PUBLIC DISTRICT

Abstract

Vacant houses have become a severe social problem in Japan. The causes of vacant houses are diverse, but the lack of durability and the earthquake resistance of old wooden detached houses can be pointed out as a significant reason. The author has previously worked on renovating houses built in 1881 and 1989 that had become vacant. In 2022-2023, the author renovated a one-story wooden house built in 1937 and a storehouse structured in 1885 with a wooden frame and earthen walls. The conservation and rehabilitation of vacant homes are related to the design of the streetscape. This paper discusses the utilization of empty houses and urban design in Japan, focusing on the recent two cases.