FIXES

Non-Intentional Design: Investigating alterations of space/objects at the public/private boundary in suburban Tokyo, Japan. A resource by a-small-lab.com. Contact: Chris Berthelsen chris@a-small-lab.com

Oil Can Bin Construction

Several oil cans cut apart, joined together with duct tape and painted form a large commercial-use outdoor rubbish bin.

Tin Can Bin
Tin Can Bin
Tin Can Bin

Location: Nagoya
Materials: Duct Tape, Oil Can, Paint

Hand Made Shopping Street Map

Hand made map showing shops and attractions in the center of Nagoya’s shopping district, Sakae.

Various fonts, paper, and hand written annotations, along with fading, wear and tear evoke the temporality of commerce.

I wonder what rules and regulations hold for the those allowed to add to the sign. What are the penalties for unauthorised editing?

Hand Made Shopping Street Map
Hand Made Shopping Street Map
Hand Made Shopping Street Map
Hand Made Shopping Street Map
Hand Made Shopping Street Map
Hand Made Shopping Street Map

Materials: Paper, Marker, Laminator
Location: Nagoya, Sakae

Menu Stabilization in Bricks

Easel legs thread through bricks for stabilization of a entrance menu.

Menu Stabilization in Bricks
Menu Stabilization in Bricks
Menu Stabilization in Bricks

Materials: Bricks
Location: Nagoya

Lantern Stabilisation in Brick and Rope

Lantern decoration for restaurant secured with a length of rope and a brick.

Lantern Stabilisation in Brick and Rope
Lantern Stabilisation in Brick and Rope
Lantern Stabilisation in Brick and Rope

Materials: Brick, Rope
Location: Nagoya

No Parking in Potplants

A bit of greenification helps keep this inner-city commerce spot free of parked bicycles.

Nice contrast with residential areas, where pots trump cars – see [HERE] and [HERE]

No Parking in Potplants
No Parking in Potplants
No Parking in Potplants

Materials: Potplants
Location: Central Nagoya

Coffee Shop Signage in Painted Wood

Painted wood scraps form signage for a coffee house in central Nagoya.

Coffee Shop Signage in Painted Wood
Coffee Shop Signage in Painted Wood

Materials: Paint, Wood Scraps
Location: Nagoya

Menu/Promotion in Laminated Paper

Railing at the entrance to a below ground level restaurant transformed into an oversize menu/promotion board with extensive use of tape and laminated paper.

Menu/Promotion in Laminated Paper
Menu/Promotion in Laminated Paper
Menu/Promotion in Laminated Paper
Menu/Promotion in Laminated Paper
Menu/Promotion in Laminated Paper
Menu/Promotion in Laminated Paper
Menu/Promotion in Laminated Paper

Materials: Laminated Paper, Railing, Tape
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Traffic Cone Reuse in Marker and A3

Traffic signage put to a different traffic related use with the help of marker and paper.

Traffic Cone Reuse in Marker and A3
Traffic Cone Reuse in Marker and A3
Traffic Cone Reuse in Marker and A3

Materials: Paper, Marker
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Real Estate Signage in Laminated Paper, Wire and Tape

Narrow frontage and cluttered streets combined with a fast-pasted real estate sector call for flexible, cheap and prominent signage on Shibuya streets. This one combines laminated paper attached to a horizontal signpost and secured with wire and duct tape.

Real Estate Signage in Laminated Paper, Wire and Tape
Real Estate Signage in Laminated Paper, Wire and Tape
Real Estate Signage in Laminated Paper, Wire and Tape
Real Estate Signage in Laminated Paper, Wire and Tape

Materials: Laminated Paper, Wire, Duct Tape
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Cut Out Laminated Signage

Laminated A2 signage with a backing of cardboard box displays six levels of information on the alley/service gate to the main building. Another layer of MS Office default text added to the already cramped Shibuya street.

The (off center) cut-out for the door handle maintains the practical use of the gate while rendering the QR code unreadable.

Cut Out Laminated Signage
Cut Out Laminated Signage
Cut Out Laminated Signage
Cut Out Laminated Signage


Materials:
Cardboard Box, Laminated Paper
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Morning Plug-in Fix

The temporary stalls in Shinjuku Station are powered by overhead sockets, necessitating umbrella storage on-site for the morning plug-in.

Morning Plug-in Fix
Morning Plug-in Fix
Morning Plug-in Fix
Morning Plug-in Fix
Morning Plug-in Fix
Morning Plug-in Fix

Materials: Umbrella
Location: Shinjuku Station, Tokyo

Clinic Potplants on Marble

Marble strips support and allow drainage for pot plant decoration outside of local clinic.

Clinic Potplants on Marble
Clinic Potplants on Marble
Clinic Potplants on Marble
Clinic Potplants on Marble

Materials: Marble
Location: Akishima-shi, Tokyo

Train Timetable in Bar

Train timetable on small izakaya wall helps patrons get home in timely fashion, saving them taxi fare and saving the bar staff from having to deal with stragglers.

Train Timetable in Bar
Train Timetable in Bar

Materials: Paper
Location: Akishima-shi, Tokyo

Street Marketing Stabilization in PET Bottle

Sign stabilized against wind with water filled PET bottle.

Street Marketing Stabilization in PET Bottle
Street Marketing Stabilization in PET Bottle

Materials: PET Bottle
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo

Weird DIY-style Cigarette Marketing

Cigarette marketing in a DIY/guerilla style outside a convenience store.

Weird DIY-style Cigarette Marketing
Weird DIY-style Cigarette Marketing

Materials: Paper
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo

Support and Barrier

A construction of traffic cones and barriers held together with wire and plastic twine supports an old awning and cordons off the unused shop front.

Support and Barrier
Support and Barrier
Support and Barrier
Support and Barrier
Support and Barrier

Materials: Plastic Twine, Wire, Traffic Cones, Traffic Barriers,
Location: Nagoya, Aichi

Yaki-imo Lamppost Signage

Yaki-imo (roasted sweet potato) advertisement on lamppost. Constructed of a cardboard box, plastic twine, and wire ties.

Yaki-imo Lampost Signage
Yaki-imo Lampost Signage
Yaki-imo Lampost Signage
Yaki-imo Lampost Signage
Yaki-imo Lampost Signage

Materials: Cardboard Box, Plastic Twine, Wire
Location: Kunitachi, Tokyo

Breeze Block Signage Stabilization

Signage stablized with a chain threaded through a breeze block.

Breeze Block Signage Stabilization

Breeze Block Signage Stabilization

Materials: Breeze Block, Chain
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo

Signage Stabilization in Wood Strip

Commercial signage stabilized through use of simple wooden strip.

Signage Stabilization in Wood Strip
Signage Stabilization in Wood Strip

Materials: Wood
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Display/Signalling Chair

Chair used to signal location of store, and display products…as well as possibly discouraging parking.

Display/Signalling Chair
Display/Signalling Chair

Materials: Chair
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Streetside Display Stabilization in Bricks

Bricks stablize a streetside display which juts out over the curb and onto the road.

Streetside Display Stabilization in Bricks
Streetside Display Stabilization in Bricks
Streetside Display Stabilization in Bricks

Materials: Brick
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Polystyrene Lid Storage in Gap

The gap between two vending machines provides ample storage for polystyrene box lids.

Polystyrene Lid Storage in Gap
Polystyrene Lid Storage in Gap

Materials: Vending Machine Gap
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Menu Secured in Bricks, Twine, and Tape

The outdoor menu for this food store is secured with plastic twine taped to two bricks, the base evened out with broken paving tiles.

Menu Secured in Bricks, Twine, and Tape
Menu Secured in Bricks, Twine, and Tape
Menu Secured in Bricks, Twine, and Tape
Menu Secured in Bricks, Twine, and Tape
Menu Secured in Bricks, Twine, and Tape

Materials: Bricks, Paving Slab, Plastic Twine, Duct Tape
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Signage in Crate, Polystyrene, Tape, Markers

Lunchtime signage on polystrene food packaging lids – written in markers, stabilized with crate. Signage is attached to hinged board for easy storage/transport (see last image).

Signage in Crate, Polystyrene, Tape, Markers
Signage in Crate, Polystyrene, Tape, Markers
Signage in Crate, Polystyrene, Tape, Markers
Signage in Crate, Polystyrene, Tape, Markers

Materials: Crate, Markers, Polystyrene, Tape, Hinged Boards
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Lunchtime Signage Over Railing

Signs advertising local restaurants lined up and stabilized over pedestrial railing. A system which also keeps them off the thoroughfare. Stabilized with tape and string.

Lunchtime Signage Over Railing
Lunchtime Signage Over Railing
Lunchtime Signage Over Railing
Lunchtime Signage Over Railing
Lunchtime Signage Over Railing

Materials: Railing, String, Tape
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Thanks to the URBAN DESIGN Lab 西村・北沢・窪田 都市デザイン研究室, Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo for making this a featured resource of their lab [LINK]

Mega-Cities: Design Anthropology and Urban Landscapes
I'm delighted and honoured to have my FIXES work included in Jared Braiterman's Tokyo University graduate seminar on mega-cities.
You can download the syllabus [HERE]


Vision Plus 2010
Thanks to the organizers of the conference for selecting this project as a featured resource, even though I was not able to attend.





Article: Small Places of Anarchy in the City: Three Investigations in Tokyo on This Big City

Article: The Non-Intentional Landscape of Tokyo - read at This Big City

Tokyo Green Space from @jbraiterman is a great inspiration [LINK]

Urban Bricolage by @ehooge is an inspiring site on a related theme [LINK]

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