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

Taxi Driver Smoko Spot

Thick tar soup in generic paint can. Evidence of smoko time at the local taxi stand.

Taxi Driver Smoko Spot
Taxi Driver Smoko Spot
Taxi Driver Smoko Spot

Materials: Can
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

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

Recycling Bottle Caps

Plastic basket secured to fence with peg provides a spot to place bottle caps to add recycling. Small tag attached with twist-tie makes purpose clear.

Recycling Bottle Caps
Recycling Bottle Caps
Recycling Bottle Caps
Recycling Bottle Caps

Location: Nagoya
Materials: Plastic Basket, Peg, Plastic Twist-Tie

Drying To Recycle in Pegs and Hangers

To recycle your plastic, you need to dry it. To dry it you need pegs and clothes hangers.

Drying To Recycle in Pegs and Hangers
Drying To Recycle in Pegs and Hangers
Drying To Recycle in Pegs and Hangers

Materials: Pegs, Clothes Hangers
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Ashtray in Plastic Bag

Tree and plastic bag form an easily disposed of ashtray in a local park.

Ashtray in Plastic Bag
Ashtray in Plastic Bag
Ashtray in Plastic Bag

Materials: Plastic Bag, Tree
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Rubbish Bin in Tree

You feel like a litter bug dropping your empty can on the ground.
Not so if you leave it in a tree.

Rubbish Bin in Tree
Rubbish Bin in Tree

Materials: Tree
Location: Akabanebashi, Tokyo

Streetside Rubbish Net Storage

Streetside storage for net used on rubbish day.

Streetside Rubbish Net Storage
Streetside Rubbish Net Storage
Streetside Rubbish Net Storage
Streetside Rubbish Net Storage

Materials: Shopping Basket, Plastic Twine, S-Hook
Location: Akabanebashi, Tokyo

Smoko Spot in Can

Simple smoko spot constructed from can attached to roadside barrier with wire.

Smoko Spot in Can
Smoko Spot in Can
Smoko Spot in Can
Smoko Spot in Can

Materials: Can, Wire
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Tethered Rubbish Bin Lid

Rubbish bin lin tethered to body with rope.

Tethered Rubbish Bin Lid
Tethered Rubbish Bin Lid
Tethered Rubbish Bin Lid

Materials: Rope
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo

Outdoor Smoko Spot in Can and Plastic Twine

Banned from smoking in the newly built residence (the last one burnt down) the man of the house has created a smoking area in his outdoor sink with an opened empty beer can tied to the stand with plastic twine.

Outdoor Smoko Spot in Can and Plastic Twine
Outdoor Smoko Spot in Can and Plastic Twine
Outdoor Smoko Spot in Can and Plastic Twine
Outdoor Smoko Spot in Can and Plastic Twine

Materials: Beer Can, Plastic Twine
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Bottle Cap Receptacle

A bottle cap receptable (from recyclable PET bottles) attached to the apartment complex rubbish drop-off with a length of wire is a convenient community-use add-on.

Bottle Cap Receptacle
Bottle Cap Receptacle

Materials: Plastic Basket, Wire
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Rubbish Drop-Off Roof Garden

The top of the rubbish drop-off point for this apartment complex has been transformed into a bright community flower garden. A lovely twist to the usually forboding and odorous gaping deadspace.

Rubbish Drop-off Roof Garden
Rubbish Drop-off Roof Garden
Rubbish Drop-off Roof Garden
Rubbish Drop-off Roof Garden
Rubbish Drop-off Roof Garden

Location: Akishima, Tokyo

(Originally posted on Tokyo-DIY-Gardening)

“Dump No Rubbish”

“Dump No Rubbish” sign in card and marker posted on drink vending machine can disposal bin.

Throw No Rubbish
Dump No Rubbish

Materials: Card
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Tree as Dump

The tree closest to the road becomes the default dumping ground for rubbish from the rest of the site. A convenient and easy to spot landmark.

Tree as Dump
Tree as Dump

Materials: Tree
Location: Tachikawa, Tokyo

Bicycle Basket Rubbish Bin

Bicycle basket as rubbish bin for vending machine and convenience store bought drinks.

Bicycle Basket Rubbish Bin

Materials: Bicycle Basket
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Potplant Stand, Inorganic Rubbish Dump

Unneeded refrigerator covered in plastic sheeting and secured with duct tape acts as potplant stand at the back of a building in Sendagaya, Tokyo.

Materials: Plastic Sheet, Duct Tape
Location: Sendagaya, Tokyo

Tethered Rubbish Receptacle

Receptacle for empty cans is tethered to the vending machine with wire threaded through the base of the receptacle and tied to the machine.
P1160923
P1160924
P1160925
Materials: Wire
Location: Harajuku, Tokyo

Rubbish Day Hook in Wire

Hanging wire hook for putting out the rubbish for collection. Attached to the wall with bent wire hooked over the top of the wall (see another example here), threat of swinging constrained by threading the wire through a fastener made of a small wood block glued to the wall. Hook for holding the rubbish bag made of bent wire.
P1160915
P1160916
P1160918
P1160919
Materials: Wire, Wood
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Cigarette Butt Disposal Unit

Cigarette butt disposal unit constructed from used oil can, wire, wood, tape, and PET bottle. An open-bottomed (to prevent rainwater collecting in the bottom) receptacle is fashioned from a used oil can nailed/screwed to a wooden stake and painted red. The receptacle is attached to the signpost with duct tape or wire. A PET bottle filled with water is placed inside the receptacle for safe and semi-odorless cigarette butt disposal. To empty the disposal units (3 in the immediate vicinity) one has only to walk around, pick up the PET bottles, and pour the contents into the rubbish (or down the drain, or wherever…). Signage is made of laminated computer print-out.
P1160901
P1160904
P1160903
P1160906
P1160910
P1160911
P1160912
P1160914
Materials: Oil Can, Wire, Wood, Tape, PET bottle
Location: Nakano-Ku, Tokyo

Community Cleaning Implement Storage in Hooks and Wire

Wire and hooks along the entrance fence to a pocket park in Nakano, Tokyo act as storage for community-use gardening/cleaning implements.
P1160866
P1160867
Materials: Hooks, Wire
Location: Nakano-ku, Tokyo

Supplementary Rubbish Receptacle in Bicycle Basket

Old bicycle basket wired on to park fence acts as a supplementary rubbish receptacle.
P1160862
P1160863
P1160864
Materials: Wire
Location: Nakano-ku, Tokyo

Rubbish Bin Protection in Plastic Grill Tray

A plastic grill tray halved and then fastened together with plastic twist ties (presumably) acts as a guard against rubbish hungry crows in a park in Nakano, Tokyo. When a local in the park was questioned about this, she replied “I don’t know, people around here make stuff and leave it here….” – Thanks to Jared Braiterman from Tokyo Green Space for pointing this out as we left the park.
P1160857
P1160858
P1160859
P1160860
P1160861
Materials: Twist Ties, Plastic Grill Tray
Location: Nakano-ku, Tokyo

Cigarette Diposal Unit in Can, Wire and Hook

A common sight in Japan, a can attached to a fence with a hook and wire for cigarette disposal.
DSC07470
Materials: Wire, Hook, Can
Location: Akishima, 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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