Research Meeting of City Core and Bay Area Renovation Project

Date： 23, May. 2007 (Wed) 18:00-21:00
Place: Boissonade Tower 25F Meeting Room B, Ichigaya Campus, Hosei University

"History of Tokyo Suijo Club and Waterfront Environment of Outer Moat"
Hiroko Hanyu, Representative Director of Canal Cafe
　I was born and bred along Ushigome Moat (outer moat) and now I am representative director of Canal Cafe.
The origin of the Cafe was the boat pier which my grandfather built. He was from Okinoshima of Shimane Prefecture, owned large forest lands along the shore, and managed a post office. He then got into Congress, and played an active role as a member of Seiyukai, an former body of Liberal Democratic Party. He met Shinpei Goto (the first mayor of Tokyo City), and frequently discussed future Japan. Their discussions hinted the construction of boat pier; because Japanese were physically fragile comparing to Western people, they considered that boat would help to exercise citizens' bodies for national defense. Two boat piers were planned; one was along outer moat in front of present Hosei University, and the other was Chidorigafuchi. In the surrounding areas, there were only wells and walls. The boat pier was built by boat builders called in from Shimane Prefecture.
Because there were few recreation facilities in Tokyo at that time, it attracted many people, who had to wait an hour before boarding a boat. 　
　Next, we will see the transformation of environments around outer moat with the times. The surrounding area of Canal Cafe has been changed influenced by the difference between urban planning and actual sense. In my early elementary years, water of the moat was transparent, where various creatures lived such as eel, crawfish, shrimp, pond-snail, firefly, etc. We used to eat them. The natural environment as above had been gradually changed. When I was in a high-grade at elementary school, we had to clean algae supported by the ward, because they often tangle with oar and were floated on the surface of water. But lots of grass carps released by the ward ate up algae, resulting to the start of pollution of the moat. Cluster-amaryllis covered the embankment were cut up by the ward. Tall willow near the stone wall of Ushigome-Mitsuke which was said to be there since the Edo Era was also cut at that time.
　Not only natural environment, but also valuable buildings have been replaced and lost. There was Communications Museum at the site of present post office. The museum was gorgeous structure of the Meiji and Taisho Periods. Because of the growth of land price, old and beautiful Fujimicho Church had no choice but to lend the first floor to the bank; however, the church was lost at the time of rebuilding.
　Urban planning directly influenced the moat; in 1984, present station building of Iidabashi was constructed, and the adjacent moat was reclaimed. Despite opposition campaigns, the moat under Iidabashi station was finally reclaimed. There had been ten or more fresh springs before the engineering work of subway started. Water flowed through the subway. It planned that flowed water would be cleaned to be returned to the moat, though it was not realized.
　There still exists valuable environment around outer moat; some springs are remained without being influenced by the engineering work along the Ushigome Moat. The famous avenue along the mort is lined with cherry trees donated by Lions club forty years ago. There were guard gates at outer and inner moats; stone walls which had large gates of castle, still remained at the crossing of Ushigome-Mitsuke.
　Tokyo Suijo Club has existed along with the changing environments. When people who took boat rides radically decreased, we released lots of Hera-buna (carassius caviari) and provided fishing spots, though we could not attract much attention. We opened the Canal Cafe restaurant seventeen years ago because we wished people to visit the place full of beautiful nature.
　Through the restaurant, we realized that many people enjoyed the waterfront. I am sure to recover environment of outer moat where I grown up through the opening of the restaurant, which attracting many people.

"Present Situations of Waterfront Renovation in City Cores of English Cities"
Takashi Ishigami, Researcher, Laboratory of Regional Design with Ecology, Hosei University
　I will make a presentation on current situations on waterfront renovation of industrial cities and commercial cities in England.
Bristol is a waterfront city attracting many people, which is west from London within two hours' drive. Bristol was once the first or second largest port city in England, flourished with commerce with North America. In 1809, the Floating Harbor, the City Docks were constructed by banking up the River Avon flowing in the city core. However, the City Docks were declined, because cargos were gradually moved to coastal docks.
　From the end of the 1980's, though the site of the City Docks was renovated partly, urban environment was not markedly improved. In 1988, however, Lloyds Bank moved from London to Bristol built its central office in the waterfront of city core, bringing about major changes on waterfront renovation. In 1990, Crest Nicholson developed office buildings along waterfront; variously designed houses have also been lined. Warehouses and factories are being converted into offices and restaurants, attracting people both in day and night. Several waterfront renovation projects are under way in the city core, such as rebuilding of Industrial Museum conserving its fa_ade.
There are many high-tech company buildings including the head office of Airbus UK. The Procurement Head Office of Ministry of Defense was moved to Bristol. Finance and insurance industry, which is one of the barometers of prosperity, are flourished. Furthermore, in recent years, Bristol is animated with various media activities, such as millennium projects for artistic media activities, programs of BBC Bristol, etc. Productions under broadcast stations, and venture companies of animation are also active. Attractive waterfront renovation of Bristol, is considered to become a system for attracting human resources from all over the country.
　In the surrounding areas, waterfront developments were conducted in Gloucester, Cardiff, Swansea, etc. However, large-scale developments of declined industrial ports are not well functioned in some cities including Cardiff.
　Now we will take a look at industrial cities in the west side. In Liverpool, many warehouses have been converted into museum, restaurant, etc. Triggered by the designation as world heritage, and European Capital of Culture, waterfront redevelopments are actively promoted. In Glasgow of Scotland, shopping malls, science technology museum, exhibition halls, offices, residences, etc. were built on land after old ship building yard along the Clyde River. In Belfast of Northern Ireland, ruined heavy industry areas were redeveloped into exhibition spaces and residences along the waterfront.
　Next, we will briefly survey inner and eastern industrial cities. In the city core of Birmingham with crisscrossed canals, convention centers, museum, and canals are closely linked each other, providing attractive waterfront spaces. In inland industrial cities such as Manchester, Leeds, and Scheffield, waterfronts are actively renovated emphasizing canals. In cities of east side such as Newcastle and Hull, waterfront developments are active; however, not all cities succeed in renovation. In London, redevelopment of Docklands was completed except for the eastern part, and renovation of canal' surrounding areas within the city is in progress.
　In industrial cities and commercial cities of England, waterfront redevelopments are actively promoted. Among those, cities renovated from commercial port through waterfront redevelopment in step-by-step manner, are harmoniously flourished. Other cities have been rapidly developed based on clearance, with the decline of industrial port, etc. ; however many of them are often deserted. In summery, evolutional renovation with taking time, and flexible development based on minute reactions, according to changes of economy, technology, preference, etc., succeed in providing attractive urban spaces.