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

Mailbox Latch in Rope

Mailbox facing the city street latched shut with a twist of rope.

Mailbox Latch in Rope
Mailbox Latch in Rope
Mailbox Latch in Rope

Materials: Rope
Location: Central 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

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

Keeping it together in rope

Residential fence held together with a length of rope. In a neighbourhood bordering a new subdivision.

Keeping it together in rope
Keeping it together in rope
Keeping it together in rope

Materials: Rope
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Paddling Pool Storage in Rope

Hot summers demand on-demand paddling pools. This one is stored right where it is used, secured with a length of rope.

Paddling Pool Storage in Rope
Paddling Pool Storage in Rope
Paddling Pool Storage in Rope

Materials: Rope
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Water Collector

Thanks to Merlyn Berthelsen for sending in this great water collector constructed from corrugated iron fastened with rope to a plastic barrel and gardening rods.

Water Collector

Materials: Corrugated Iron, Plastic Barrel, Gardening Rods, Rope
Location: Aichi Prefecture

Gate in Wire and Rope

Rope barrier/gate reinforced, strengthened and given weight (helps stop it swinging in the breeze) with wire wrapped around its length.

Gate in Wire and Rope
Gate in Wire and Rope
Gate in Wire and Rope
Gate in Wire and Rope

Materials: Wire, Rope
Location: Tachikawa, Tokyo

Golfer’s Fence

Ornamental gardening fence/demarcation constructed from metal rods topped with golf balls (for safety and decoration) and slim bamboo sticks – all threaded with rope and string. A cute judo wrestler surveys the scene.

Golfer's Fence
Golfer's Fence
Golfer's Fence
Golfer's Fence
Golfer's Fence
Golfer's Fence
Golfer's Fence
Golfer's Fence
Golfer's Fence

Materials: Golf Balls, Golf Clubs, Metal Rods, Rope, String, Figurines
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Entrance Tree

Tree trained over entrance gate with a sturdy wooden pole and rope.
P1170513
P1170515
P1170512
Materials: Wooden Pole, Rope
Location: Hachioji, Tokyo

Clothesline in Rope, Poles and Pegs

Clothesline in garage constructed from pegs hung from poles hung from ropes attached to garage structure.
DSC07463
Materials: Rope, Poles
Location: Tachikawa, Tokyo

Entrance Rose Training in Rope

Rose bush over entrance gate trained with rope.
P1140664
P1140665
Materials: Rope
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Tree Training in Rope

Tree trained to grow over entrance gate with rope attached to fence.
P1110512
P1110514
P1110513
Materials: Rope
Location: Mitaka, Tokyo

Barrier in Rope and Wire

Rope barrier to workshop parking/storage area. Constructed from rope and wire. Wire is used in two ways: (1) To fashion a hook at one end to facilitate opening/closing of the barrier (2) To bind excess rope to the main barrier.
P1130771
P1130773
P1130774P1130775
Materials: Wire, Rope
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Washing Line as Dead Bush Restraint

Washing line as dead bush restraint. Note method of attachment to supporting post. (Note bored daughter in background)
P1130809
P1130808
Materials: Rope
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]