The main object of our lab is the “Urban Design”. It deals especially with esthetic aspect of urban area in the “Urban Planning”.

Specially, we conduct practical research planning theory focusing on

Historic Preservation / Heritage Conservation,

Townscape,

Citizen Participation.

As Japan enters a developed phase, it is important to create the truly abundant urban environment.

We put great value on researches to discover, rehabilitate, and utilize unrecognized charms of the region and those to encourage systemic reforms suitable for the 21st century.

Therefore, we engage in formulation of practical plans and guidelines, and activities of community development in cooperation with local governments and citizen organizations.

Although we respect field works in Niigata prefecture as a role of a local university, we also conduct research in other prefectures and foreign countries, especially U.S. and Canada.

We research historic district and "Machiya" (traditional merchants' house), evaluation of local character, establishment and implementation of preservation system.

We research legal systems of design review and activities by citizen organization. Objects are not only in Japan but in U.S., Canada and U.K. that are one of the advanced nations in this field.

We research design guideline and landmarks in the Landscape act, Height Control Zone, and conservation system of Cultural Landscape.

We research organizations and their activities engaging in community development and consensus building processes.

We research Significance of "Geisha" culture from modern point of view, present condition and conservation, characteristics of Kagai architecture's. 

Urban Planning Lab,

Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture,

Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University

8050 Ikarashi-2nocho, Nishi Ward, Niigata City, 950-2181, JAPAN

Tel & Fax: +81-25-262-7213

E-mail: aokazaki (at) eng.niigata-u.ac.jp (Professor OKAZAKI)

            matsui (at) eng.niigata-u.ac.jp (Assistant Professor MATSUI)