Architecture & Landscape in Europe
The cityscape in Europe reflects its rich history and diverse cultures. In particular, Paris, France, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, where historic and new architecture coexist, and the landscape is in excellent harmony with nature. This page introduces research conducted by the University of Hyogo in architecture, urban planning, and landscape planning, mainly in France.
Fusion of historicism and modernism in architecture and urbanism
Tetsuya Mitamura
Professor, School of Human Science and Environment
The city of Paris in France has a rich history and culture, and one of its charms is the coexistence of new and old architecture. The cityscape along both banks of the Seine River is a legacy of France's continuous construction and destruction during the medieval, early modern, and modern eras. My research focuses on the architecture and cities of interwar France.
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics was held outside the stadium for the first time in the history of the Olympics.
On the Seine River, which runs east to west through the center of Paris, athletes traveled on boats from Austerlitz Bridge to the Trocadéro Gardens. Paris Cathedral, which is near the starting point is a medieval structure from which Paris began to prosper greatly as a city. Next is the Louvre Palace, which was built from the Early Modern Period to the Modern Period. The end point of the journey is the Eiffel Tower, built in 1889, and the Trocadéro Gardens on the other side of the river, an area that has repeatedly been used as the main venue for the Paris Expo and other events.
The route of the opening ceremony thus traces the architecture and the city through the Middle Ages, the Early Modern Period, and the Modern Period.
Tetsuya Mitamura, アール?デコ博建築造形論 : 一九二五年パリ装飾美術博覧会の会場と展示館, Chuokouronbijyutsu, 2010
However, these landscapes were not created quickly; architecture and cities are things that accumulate. Historicism and modernism are opposites, but both are essential to architecture and cities, and they should be integrated.
Going back in history, architecture and cities have tended to focus on one or the other, with repeated destruction and construction. Cities with long histories have experienced periods when historicism was respected and other periods when modernism was favored, and the ideas of each period naturally manifest themselves in architecture and cities. During the interwar period, France underwent tremendous political, social, cultural, and other changes as the world expanded. The country began not only to create new architecture and cities in response to these changes but also to carry on the architecture and cities of the past. Based on the French territory of the times, I am engaged in research to clarify the role played by architects and city planners of the time from various perspectives, including the history, design, planning, and technology of architecture and cities.
Expanding Research
The key to landscaping is people's sense of well-being
Hiroki Akazawa
Professor, Institute of Natural and Environmental Sciences
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As a landscape specialist, I draw up landscape plans and manage local communities. To create beautiful landscapes rooted in people's lives, I compare the townscape of the past and the present from existing local documents and photographs and analyze what has changed and what has not. I determine what elements are essential for the landscape of the city. On the other hand, I sometimes incorporate new examples and ideas from overseas. For example, previously, in Japan, the indicator was the percentage of land area covered with greenery, but in France, it was the norm to consider the percentage of greenery within people's range of vision and how they perceived greenery. By utilizing these concepts, it has become possible in Japan to create a plan that is more aligned with the people's perspective in that city. I will continue studying domestic and international landscapes to realize landscapes that make people happy and enrich their lives.
Gardens are environmental art that serve as a means of visualizing religion and social systems
Naoki Takeda
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Landscape Design and Management
Historically, European garden styles have changed successively from Italian to French to English. The 18th century English landscape garden was the first style of modern garden, while the 17th century French garden was the last style of pre-modern garden. French gardens, as typified by the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, are formal gardens with symmetrical and geometric forms, and feature numerous statues based on ancient Greek and Roman mythology. These had a political function of visually demonstrating royal power during the absolute monarchy to the people of the time. The visual quality of a garden reflects not only aesthetics, but also the political, social, religious and cultural circumstances of the time. However, in modern landscape design, it is common for past overseas garden styles to be easily introduced from a superficial design perspective without a proper understanding of this historical background. It is important to properly understand the history of gardens and then think about landscape design that is compatible with modern society.
Focus on Person
Cultural differences between two countries learned through World Heritage sites
I visited France on my own to research “World Heritage Sites in Japan and France” in a project seminar. While touring France, I was impressed by the numerous buildings that embody the differences in culture and lifestyle in each region and by how entire have long protected the landscapes. One of the significant differences from Japan is that the architecture remains today, reflecting the monarchy and social situation of the time. Through my field research, I realized the importance of seeing with my own eyes and feeling with my senses. Since returning to Japan, I have been learning more about World Heritage Sites and famous architecture.
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Cultural differences between two countries learned through World Heritage sites
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Ayuka Toyoda
3rd year student, School of Economics and Management
Gaining hints for solving urban issues from the transition of urban planning
I am researching the transition of urban planning in Spain, as designed by the French architect Léon Jaussely. Spain is famous for its unique architecture, but it also has a long history of urban planning. I compare city plans, study the changes in streets and plots, and analyze the reasons for these changes, considering the social conditions of the time and the planners' intentions. By understanding the history of urban planning and revealing how cities approach the problems they face, I hope to find hints for solving today's urban issues. In the future, I aim to create more comfortable cities to live in.
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Gaining hints for solving urban issues from the transition of urban planning
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Nanami Arikawa
4th year student, School of Human Science and Environment