Chulalongkorn University and Tokyo Metropolitan University Collaborate on Urban Resilience Workshop: Designing for Adaptability in the 21st Century 

Faculty and students from Chulalongkorn University’s Department of Architecture recently teamed up with their counterparts from the Faculty of Urban Environmental Sciences at Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU), Japan, for a collaborative workshop aimed at addressing urban resilience.  The event, titled “TMU x CU Workshop: Towards 21st Century Urban Resilience—Design for Adaptability,” took place from September 29 to October 6, 2024, in Japan. 

The workshop centered on collaborative design efforts to create a rehabilitation plan for the southern region of Minami Osawa.  Urban resilience is critical for ensuring that cities can adapt to and recover from challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, and rapid urbanization, making it a key focus in sustainable urban development.  Students from both universities worked together to propose innovative solutions for the area’s urban challenges.  Participants also attended special lectures from key experts in the field, including Prof. Tohru Yoshikawa, Dean of the TMU’s Faculty of Urban Environmental Sciences; Mr. Mitsuyoshi Miyazaki, architect and founder of Hagiso; and Mr. Atsushi Yokomizo, architect and founder of Studio Megane.  To complement the workshop, participants also explored notable areas such as Central Tokyo, Yanaka, and Tama New Town to gain deeper insights into urban development. 

This project, sponsored by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, was led by Assoc. Prof. Yoshihiko Ito of TMU and Assoc. Professor Dr. Waricha Wongpayat from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture.