WORKSHOP: ALCHEMY OF ARCHITECTURE ~ SEASON 3

ALCHEMY OF ARCHITECTURE is an intensive programme to make a work ‘telling a story’ by capturing urban issues, integrating the methods of film, architecture, literature and art. You can learn how to realise your interests and how to express them for the others by using films and making stories by following the program. Anyone who is interested in these media will be welcomed. No creative skills are necessary.
We will continuously focus on Kikusaka (hill) street in Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo where there are historical background and uniqueness of the figure.
The theme of the season is ‘EDIT’ . Not only information in cities which is objective but also assembling photographs, video-clips, inspirations and memories which are subjective and sensuous as materials, we will explore the process to deal with, organize and polish throughout the season referring to the ideas by architect, Rem Koolhaas, editor, Seigo Matsuoka and.

Date & time:

【PROCESS 01】22 January 2017 14:00 – 16:00 (13:30 Door opens)

【PROCESS 02】19 February 2017 14:00 – 16:00 (13:30 Door opens)

【PROCESS 03】26 March 2017 14:00 – 16:00 (13:30 Door opens)

【PROCESS 04】16 April 2017 14:00 – 16:00 (13:30 Door opens)

【PROCESS 05】14 May 2017 14:00 – 16:00 (13:30 Door opens)

【PROCESS 06】11 June 2017 14:00 – 16:00 (13:30 Door opens)

【PROCESS 07】9 July 14:00 – 16:00 (13:30 Door opens)

【PROCESS 08】12 November 13:00 (starts)
＊After the excursion in Kikusaka with a talk by a local inhabitant we will move to the workshop venue. (16:00 ends)
The speaker:
A product designer Namio Ohmichi who has been ddving near by and witnessed the changes of Kikusaka for more than 70 years will have a talk.

【PROCESS 09】23 December 14:00 – 16:00 (13:30 Door opens)

＊ You can apply any time during the season 3.

Venue:
JSURP Place (Office of JSURP [Japan Society of Urban and Regional Planners])
2nd Floor, Katori Bldg.ANNEX  2-10 Ogawamachi, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo, Japan (Map)

Fee:
1,000 yen (with profession), 500 yen (student, unemployed, repeaters) per session

How to apply:
Please email us with your name, contacts and name of your school or profession.
＊ If you are interested in researching the area on your own please let us know as you contact we’ll send you the maps and information.

Supported by:
The Japan Society of Urban and Regional Planners

Special Thanks to:
Prof. Ron Kenley (L'école nationale supérieure d'architecture de Paris-La Villette - ENSAPLV )
Cinématic Architecture Seoul

[About Kikusaka (hill)]
Kikusaka is a 600m road from Shinobazu-dori street turning at the Hongo Sanchome crossing to Kototoi-dori street. It is a historical street as well-known novelists like Junichiro Tanizaki, Shiki Masaoka, Kenji Miyazawa, Ichiyo Higuchi and others as well as the architect, Arata Isozaki as there is Tokyo University near by. It has been featured in several film such as ‘Orizuru Osen’ (1935) by Kenji Mizoguchi, ‘Bangiku’ (1954) by Mikio Naruse and ‘Sorekara’ (1985) by Yoshimitsu Morita.
Some philosophers and writers such as Shin’ichi Nakazawa and Ryotaro Shiba ever described about its characteristic atmosphere, geography and history of the street.
In the area there were many gold fish shops (There is only one shop exists now.) and people used to live with Bozai and small bushes for more than 500 years. The visitors must be surprised at seeing those wooden houses still remain even though it’s in the middle of Tokyo.