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

Reinforcing Steel as Storage

Reinforcing steel rod from breeze block wall bent into a hook. This is used on rubbish day to hang out the burnable rubbish for collection.
P1140667
P1140668
P1140669
Materials: Steel Rod
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Outdoor Storage in Bike Basket and Wire

An old bike basket attached to the garage structure with wire serves as garage storage.
P1140661
P1140662
Materials: Bicycle Basket, Wire
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Tree as Temporary Storage

Glasses hung on a tree during an impromptu rugby match.
P1160235
P1160234
Materials: Tree
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Plastic Bag Storage in String, Pegs, Clip and Bag

Plastic bags are stored in a cloth bag which is fastened to string with a clip. The bag is suspended from the roof of the apartment complex bicycle parking shed and secured (to guard against the wind) by pegs.
P1110427
P1110428
Materials: String, Pegs, Clip, Bag

Stairwell Umbrella Storage/Drying

Apartment stairwell railing as umbrella storage/drying space.
P1110431
P1110430
Materials: Railing
Location: Mitaka, Tokyo

Plastic Bag Storage in Cracks

Gaps between the roof and walls of a bicycle parking shed utilized as plastic bag storage.
P1110434
P1110433
P1110432
Materials: Gaps
Location: Mitaka, Tokyo

Communal Umbrella Storage

Umbrellas stored (left for dead?) on a stairwell railing.
P1110444
Materials: Railing
Location: Mitaka, Tokyo

Door Handle as Glove Storage

Door handle of under-stair compartment used as glove storage.
P1110454
P1110453
Materials: Door handle
Location: Mitaka, Tokyo

Outdoor Storage in Electrical Cord

Outdoor storage for a workshop constructed by strapping trolley to side of workshop with electrical cord.
P1130770
P1130769
P1130768
Materials: Electrical Cord
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Bike Lock Storage

Front fence as bicycle lock storage.
P1130811
P1130810P1130812
Materials:Fence
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Storage-cum-Fence in Wire, Bricks and Corrugated Plastic

A storage space/fence construced from pieces of a broken fence and corrugated cardboard. Held together with wire and evened out with bricks supports.
P1130815
P1130814P1130813
Materials: Bricks, Corrugated Plastic, Wire
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Bric-a-Brac Bearing Bicycle via @tokyotimes

A fantastic shot of vehicle-cum-storage via Tokyo Times

Materials: Bicycle, Wire
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Reference: http://www.wordpress.tokyotimes.org/?p=4742

Unicycle Storage

Wall of bicycle parking shed as unicycle storage.

Materials: Fixed Object
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Blue Tape Waterproofing

Waterproofing an outdoor storage closet with blue tape.



Materials: Tape
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Wire on Packing Strap Hook

Bent scrap wire attached to packing strap stabilizer for drainpipe forms a simple hook.


Materials: Packing Strap, Wire
Location: Tachikawa, Tokyo

Breeze Block Outdoor Sponge and Hose Storage

Breeze blocks form a simple storage set for sponges and a hose.




Material: Breeze Blocks
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Breeze Block Shelves

Breeze blocks support shelves in suburban green house.



Material: Breeze Blocks
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Coat Hanger Sandal Storage

Wire coat hanger bent into shape for outdoor sandal storage. Hung on string tied to beam.



Material: Coat Hanger, String
Location: Ome, Tokyo

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]


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]

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

Article: Framework for Neighbourhood Creative Climate - read at This Big City

Tokyo Green Space from Jared Braiterman is a great inspiration [LINK]

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

Treepolis by Christoph Rupprecht inspires me with investigations into informal green space, cities, and urban ecology with a focus on Australia and Japan [LINK]

Everyday Structures by @alanwiig is another fine site in the same vein [LINK]