2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Architecture and Building Engineering Graduate major in Urban Design and Built Environment
Advanced Conservation and Preservation of Historic Environments
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Urban Design and Built Environment
- Instructor(s)
- Amana Hiraga
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- UDE.D416
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
To create sustainable built environment, adaptive reuse of existing building is an important factor. Among these, the adaptive reuse of buildings and environments with historical value is a promising field for future development, as it contributes to building local identity, revitalizing the community through appropriate utilization and tourism development, and maintaining the diversity of local culture through the preservation of lifestyles and traditional industries.
Research on the principles and methods for passing on historical values to the future has long been accumulated in the field of cultural heritage preservation, and it is now necessary to share this wisdom widely in the architectural field. In order to preserve buildings of historical value, it is essential to have both (1) an understanding of the principles to recognize the value of "what" and "why" to preserve, and (2) a search for practical methods of "how" to preserve the heritage so that it can be passed on to the future without losing its value.
In this course we will focus on understanding of practical methods, and students will deepen their understanding of the effective methods of adaptive reuse of cultural heritage in Japan and the international community through a variety of specific case studies.
Course description and aims
(1) To understand the role of cultural heritage in modern society.
(2) To understand conservation repair and utilization techniques that emphasize the value of cultural heritage.
(3) To be able to propose conservation and utilization proposals for individual cultural heritage sites without losing its value.
Student learning outcomes
実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)
The lecture involve the knowledge from the work experience as monument conservator (ex. senior researcher at Cabinet office).
Keywords
Cultural heritage, Historical buildings, Sustainability, Adaptive reuse, Modern architecture, Industrial heritage
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures in Japanese. Students will work as a group or an individual to develop adaptive reuse proposals.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | The role of cultural heritage in Today’s society | Understanding the fundamental ideas of the cultural heritage conservation to build the sustainable society. |
| Class 2 | Conservation and adaptive reuse of modern architecture | Understanding the methods of the conservation of modern architecture through case studies from Japan and abroad. |
| Class 3 | Historical value of the Akasaka Palace, the state guesthouse | Understanding the historical and architectural value of the Akasaka Palace. |
| Class 4 | Conservation and adaptive reuse of industrial heritage | Understanding the methods of the conservation of industrial heritage through case studies from Japan and abroad. |
| Class 5 | Conservation and adaptive reuse of local heritage | Understanding the methods of the conservation of local heritage through case studies from Japan and abroad. |
| Class 6 | Group discussion | Group discussion about the conservation and utilization proposals for individual cultural heritage sites without losing its value. |
| Class 7 | Final Presentation | Final presentation about the conservation and utilization proposals for individual cultural heritage sites without losing its value. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Books and references are introduced during classes.
Evaluation methods and criteria
A report and final presentation at the end of class and short assignments in classes are required for making score.
Related courses
- UDE.D415 ： Basics on Conservation and Preservation of Historic Environments
- UDE.E405 ： Sustainable Built Environment
Prerequisites
Priority will be given to master's students.