Theme

A Future of Kumagaya Distribution Center
(熊谷流通センターの未来)

Overview: Japan tends to decrease the population, and to age in many aspects. The local city will appear in this phenomenon in earlier days. In contrast, since the so-called "super-smart society" is approaching in the near future through such innovations as industry 4.0 and society 5.0 (Communication Promoters Group of the Industry-Science Research Alliance 2013, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan 2016).

Kumagaya-city (熊谷市) is an inland local city which locates 60 km north of Tokyo and is one of the largest cities in northern Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県北部地域). Its current population is about 200,000. The central Kumagaya locates between Tone River (利根川. The 2nd longest river in Japan) and Arakawa River (荒川). On July 23, 2018, the city recorded an air temperature of 41.1 °C, the highest temperature recorded in Japan. 2019 Rugby World Cup games will be held at the Kumagaya rugby stadium in September and October 2019.

Kumagaya was developed as a post town on the Nakasendo highway (中山道) during Edo period (江戸時代. 1603-1868). During Meiji (明治時代. 1868-1912) and Taisho periods (大正時代. 1912-1926), Kumagaya developed as the sericultural industry city called "蚕都" in addition to the agriculture industry.

Recent Kumagaya is also an essential point of transportation.  Express highways (Kanetsu Expressway (関越自動車道) and Tohoku Expressway (東北自動車道)), national highways (R17, R125, R140, and R407) and railway lines (JR Joetsu Shinkansen (JR上越新幹線), JR Takasaki-line (JR高崎線), Chichibu Main Line (秩父鉄道秩父本線)) serve in and near the Kumagaya city. They have a shinkansen station since 1982. It takes 40 minutes by shinkansen, and 80 minutes by local train to Tokyo. 

Kumagaya involves in Kanto Inland Industrial Area (関東内陸工業地域). Categories in Kanto Inland Industrial Area are machine industry (45.0%),  food industry (15.5%), metallic industry (11.6%),  chemical Industry (10.2%), etc. Industrial areas have been developed into coastal areas such as the Pacific Belt Zone. One of the reasons for the development of the Kanto Inland Industrial Area despite the inland area is the relocation of the factories from the Keihin Industrial Zone (京浜工業地帯). The Keihin Industrial Zone has been developed by constructing factories by redeeming Tokyo Bay and nearby areas. However, due to the lack of places to build factories and environmental destruction, it became difficult to expand factories. Then, the factories were moved to Kanto Inland Industrial Area. The shipment amount of Kanto Inland Industrial Area (JPY 30 trillion) is the third in Japan, and bigger than that of Keihin Industrial Zone (JPY 24.5 trillion).

 
Design theme: Re-design suburban area in local city: Kumagaya Distribution Center and around the Socio Distribution Center Station (ソシオ流通センター駅). 
Location: One stop from Kumagaya station via Chichibu Main Line (秩父鉄道秩父本線) (3.3km away from Kumagaya st.)
Background: Kumagaya Distribution Center (協同組合 熊谷流通センター) was opened in the suburban area of Kumagaya in 1975 to solve urban problems such as traffic issue in the downtown area. Kumagaya Distribution Center has a big wholesale complex and facilities such as a hall and becomes old.
Due to the change in industrial structures (not only in Kumagaya), shifting from traditional shopping streets to big supermarket, then from supermarket to convenience store system, and increasing web selling system (Amazon, Alibaba, and Rakuten (JP), etc.), the wholesale industry needs to rethink its role.

Since the so-called "super-smart society" is approaching in the near future through such innovations as industry 4.0 and society 5.0, how should the Kumagaya Distribution Center re-design in the near future in the aspects of space and utilization (such as urban and architectural design, placemaking, cooperation between the public and private sectors)? 

Of course, urban integration should be considered during the renovation process. How the renovation will bring changes to the urban environment and the needs of the people in the surrounding.

We welcome your cutting-edge design proposal using digital technologies such as Generative design, BIM and GIS and demonstrate your proposal using XR (virtual/augmented/mixed reality) in addition to the conventional method.

Sub Themes

Virtual and Real Interaction -- Historical and Cultural Reproduction
Comparison of Urban Streets Design
Urban Spatial Structure Evolution 
Population Demand and Spatial Vitality
Reconstructing using Elements of Town and Cities

Map

Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Map 01 (Kumagaya - Tokyo) JP | EN
Map 02 (Kumagaya city) JP | EN
Map 03 (Kumagaya Distribution Center) JP | EN

Google Map
Kumagaya Distribution Center

Google Street View
Socio Distribution Center Station (ソシオ流通センター駅)
Latitude: 36.136506 | Longitude: 139.424658 | Altitude: 20.0m

Site Photos 

URL 

Kumagaya city Official JP | EN
Kumagaya city Wiki JP | EN
Kumagaya City Planning Map JP
Socio Distribution Center Station (ソシオ流通センター駅) JP | EN
Socio Kumagaya (Distribution Center: ソシオ熊谷・熊谷流通センター) JP | Twitter
Old Birdview drawn by Hatsusaburo Yoshida (吉田初三郎) (in 1936 and 1955. p.6)