LXI. Osaka, Japan
Osaka, Japan
Osaka, Japan
Osaka Prefecture, located in the Kansai region of Japan, is a vibrant and densely populated area centered around the bustling metropolis of Osaka City. Known for its rich history, modern architecture, and dynamic urban culture, the prefecture encompasses 33 municipalities, including Sakai, Higashiosaka, and Suita.
Population:
Urban: 11,000,000 people
Metro: 19,000,000 people
Area:
Urban: 223 square km
Metro (Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe): 13,033 km2
Population Density:
Urban Average: 12,110 people/km2
Metro Average:1,458 people/km2
Politics:
Osaka’s political landscape is dynamic, with a strong focus on regional governance and reform. The city and prefecture are key strongholds for the Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai), which advocates for administrative reforms to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. A significant political issue has been the “Osaka Metropolis Plan,” which proposed merging Osaka City’s wards into larger administrative units to streamline governance and improve coordination between the city and prefecture. Osaka’s political priorities also include economic revitalization, urban development, and addressing challenges like population aging and disaster preparedness, which are central to its role in Japan’s broader political and economic framework.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
1 Rising demand for housing in central areas has driven up costs, making it challenging for lower-income residents
2 Heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic during peak hours
3 Extensive railway and subway networks like JR and Osaka Metro make the city highly accessible, even in densely populated areas
4 Skyscrapers and underground malls (e.g., Osaka Station City and Namba Parks) optimize land use while providing integrated public spaces.
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Osaka- High-Density Housing Typologies
Osaka - Urban Void Spaces
1 Rising demand for housing in central areas has driven up costs, making it challenging for lower-income residents
2 Heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic during peak hours
3 Extensive railway and subway networks like JR and Osaka Metro make the city highly accessible, even in densely populated areas
4 Skyscrapers and underground malls (e.g., Osaka Station City and Namba Parks) optimize land use while providing integrated public spaces.
Osaka- High-Density Housing Typologies
Osaka - Urban Void SpacesZürich, Switzerland - Charkop Gaothan (Kandivali):
Area: 17.8 square km
Population: 589,886 people
Population Density: 33,129 people/km2
Mumbai, India- Zaveri Bazaar (Marine Lines):
Area: 1.8 square km
Population: 202, 922 people
Population Density: 112,734 people/km2
Mumbai, India - Deonar (Chembur):
Area: 32.5 square km
Population: 674,850 people
Population Density: 20,764 people/km2
Regenesis: Sustainable Dwelling Initiative, (Deonar) Mumbai
This proposed project is an initiative to revitalize and regenerate the neighbourhood surrounding Mumbai’s largest dumping ground at Deonar. The residents of this neighbourhood are the marginalized and socially ostracized community who work on the landfill site to segregate waste to earn a living for themselves. The existing informal housing typologies on the site accommodate anywhere around 6-8 people per dwelling. These homes are single-family units closely built next to each other in a cluster form to create small pockets which enable social interaction amongst the residents. The methane levels in the environment and lack of quality green spaces cause a lot of health as well as environmental hazards, thus, compromising the lives of the residents. To address the challenges within this neighbourhood, the proposed project is an initiative to create a phase-wise development of a self-sustained neighbourhood that enables employment opportunities as well as a better quality of life for the existing residents.
Each block has residential units overlooking central courtyards that either accommodate any commercial, landscape or congregation spaces. Each of these courtyards is further connected by these thoroughfares. The varying sizes of housing units not only accommodate different family sizes but also the staggered patterns allow the formation of green terraces. Prosperous landscape activities like farmlands and greenhouses not only add to the beauty of the site but also foster various livelihood activities for the residents. This allows act as a counter to the methane levels in the air, making the site less prone to fire hazards. In conclusion, this project aims to not only address the issue of high-density quality housing for the site but also foster day-to-day livelihood through productive landscapes.
Site Plan
Programmatic Section
Axonometric View