IN-PERSON Manchester Livable Cities

Abstract

The paper investigates and reflects on various features of the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art and the Kobe Waterfront Plaza that can be experienced in person. Both post-disaster revitalisation projects were designed by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando following the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. These two interventions integrate elements such as architecture, urban design, art, culture, nature, and communities. They also highlight some of Tadao Ando’s ideas about architecture and urban design, and their role in revitalising post-disaster locations. Several design intents and meanings are associated with these projects. Qualitative methods, including reflective writing, narrative, walking, and case study observation, mainly characterise the methodology. Written reflections in a travel notebook, compiled during and after the two site visits, combined with photographs, serve as the primary data. Descriptions of specific moments and personal reflections will be presented in narrative form because it is the most suitable way to capture and communicate more subjective experiences. The reflections will cover aspects related to architecture, urban design, and the content of the visited exhibitions. The reflections presented in the paper were developed during and after two visits undertaken by the author to Kobe (Japan) in 2023 and in 2024. The main aim of the paper is to identify and reflect on how these projects propose specific experiences and narratives, and to develop broader insights that can inspire projects at the architectural and urban scales in other locations. The work also explores a series of qualitative methods for analysing architecture and places during and after site visits.