The Japanese City according to Ashihara and Nitschke

1. The experiential city
2. Fosters harmony through uniformity, fragmented image makes the individual feel part of the larger whole
3. Special relationship
4. Molecular structure: additive, clustered, non-hierarchical
5. Ambiguous in map and plan

 

Link:

Network of access routes; disperses and slows movement

Few straight roads

Increases experiential time

 

縁 (en):

Transactional space; simultaneously the connection and / or separation between spaces

Connects/separates, inside and outside, public and private, city and nature, etc.

 

Dividuum:

Part split from and belonging to the whole

Basic unit of the city, like the ward and block, fragmented and repeated

Creates uniformity throughout the city and among Japanese cities

 

間 (ma):

Place or space; understood as the place for tea ceremony or formal space

Implies both an objective and subjective reading meaning both the physical space and its sentimental evocation

 

Natural context:

Topography and surrounding natural elements

Mt. Fuji