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

Eye-Level Potplant Rack

An interesting space-saving variation on the curbside/wall garden.

A thin plank of wood rests on top of a wire fence and is secured in place with wire and string tied to the guttering and drainpipes. Extra safety is added through a long plastic gardening rod which acts as a railing along the front of the garden. Precarious yet thoughtful, this construction does not intrude into the narrow thoroughfare any further than the curb line.

Simple and non-intrusive, and the perfect height for passing pedestrians to enjoy.

Eye-level Pot Plant Rack
Eye-level Pot Plant Rack
Eye-level Pot Plant Rack
Eye-level Pot Plant Rack
Eye-level Pot Plant Rack
Eye-level Pot Plant Rack

Materials: Wire, String, Plank of Wood, Plastic Garden Rod
Location: Nakano, Tokyo

(Originally posted on Tokyo-DIY-Gardening)

Street Corner Tomato Construction

Simply constructed tomato garden – collection of standard plastic covered metal rods used for gardening. The rods pierce the old corrugated plastic awning to stabilize the structure.

Street Corner Tomato Construction
Street Corner Tomato Construction
Street Corner Tomato Construction
Street Corner Tomato Construction
Street Corner Tomato Construction

Materials: Plastic Stake
Location: Sendagaya, Tokyo

(Originally posted on Tokyo-DIY-Gardening)

Trackside Asagao Space

Along the narrow no-man’s-land between the railway track fencing and the road there is just enough space for residents of the house that lies directly opposite to create an asagao (morning glory) garden.

Constructed of plastic/metal gardening rods, bamboo and plastic twine this simple 3m x 1.5m (approx.) construction provides the right amount of support for the plants to climb and bloom. I like that the seed packet has been left at the base of the plant to let pedestrians know what is growing (or maybe it is a reminder to the gardener).

This is a great example of the affordable, productive, and enjoyable appropriation of unused/unusable space that is characteristic of Tokyo DIY gardening.

Trackside Asagao Space
Trackside Asagao Space
Trackside Asagao Space
Trackside Asagao Space
Trackside Asagao Space
Trackside Asagao Space
Trackside Asagao Space

Materials: Plastic Stake, Bamboo, Plastic Twine
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

(Originally posted on Tokyo-DIY-Gardening)

Pot Plant Shelf in Rods and String

Pot plant shelf constructed on the exterior of block wall with plastic rods. Pots secured with string and plastic grill.
P1160964
P1160963
P1160962
P1160961
Materials: Plastic Stake, String, Plastic Grill
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Entrance Archway in Stakes

Entrace archway ready for a creeper or vine. Constructed in wire and plastic stakes.
P1160954
P1160955
P1160956
Materials: Plastic Stake, Wire
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Fence in Wire and Corrugated Iron

Corrugated iron sheets form a fence when affixed to metal reinforcing spikes. Plastic stakes fixed to the back provide extra stabilization.
P1130761
P1130760P1130762P1130764P1130763
Materials: Wire, Metal Spike, Plastic Stake
Location: Akishima, 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]