Tange's Tokyo Plan

          Last quarter, I was introduced to this essay while I was writing a paper on what I believe my architecture should be. Focusing on my hometown of New Orleans, my thesis talked about architecture being regionally implicated, but mobile, giving people a feeling of certainty in the face of uncertainty. I opened the paper talking about the Make It Right Foundation and what has been proposed to help rebuild the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. There have been numerous proposals to help rebuild the city, but there is one specific project that stands out. There happened to be a proposal to design a mega structure or a "floating city" for the city of New Orleans. The city's platform would be built from city block-size dry-docks, which would then be assembled into a single massive structure. And because the city floats, it would be possible for the entire city to change its location in "the face of uncertainty". Although Tange's project was designed for a totally different reason, I believed it was a good example to relate to, especially since this was thought of over 50 years ago.          
          While researching, I came across Tange's plan and his proposal to help Tokyo's population crisis. Since there are so many people, two important ideas that Tange recognized were the transportation system and the need for direct communication (rather than technical communication). The problem with a city of 10,000,000 people is that these people need places to live. Following the typical urban pattern since the Middle Ages, as Tokyo's central urban district grows, the suburbs grow. Which in turn means there are more commuters, that travel farther and farther everyday. Tange realized that the traditional radial plan provides mobility for smaller cities, but in a city where the movement is increasing by the day, it is "beyond its limitations". Because the rapid speed and scale of movement was ultimately destroying the spatial order of the city, Tange thought it was necessary to create a new order.
          Tange happened to be a member of the Metabolist Group, which was an Avant-garde group which was found during the 1960s. "The work processes for an architectural Avant-garde group can be defined by: (1) carefully studying current social issues; (2) fore-seeing the potential needs in the future; (3) and attempt to resolve the needs by innovative solution(s). With different observations and predictions of social needs, architects would be able to respond to urban forms, structures and densities through different solutions" (Kang Yau).
          Tange mentions in his essay that he was not trying to reject the Tokyo that currently existed. He insisted on providing the city with a new structure which would lead to its rejuvenation or "re-birth". I feel that following the ideas of Kenzo Tange could ultimately help the city of New Orleans. Just like Tange says, it's not rejecting the existing conditions, it's "rejuvenating".

Works Cited:

 Kang Yau, Lee. "THE UTOPIA CITY IN METABOLISM." Web. 18 Nov. 2010. <www.arch.cuhk.edu.hk/.../Lee%20Kang%20Yau_s0903219_3E.doc>

Tange, Kenzo. "A Plan for Tokyo." Textbook. (pg. 325-334). 1960.