31. Emergent TokyoThink of Tokyo less as a “chaotic” than as an “emergent” city. This means spontaneous, self-organizing aspects create order from the bottom up. That kind of emergence can be, if not designed, then facilitated. Unfrozen interviews Jorge Almazan, Associate Professor, Department of System Design Engineering, Keio University, and author of “Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City.”
Intro: Woman from Tokyo, by Deep Purple
Discussed:
Yokocho Alleys
Zakkyo Buildings
Ankyo Streets
Complexity Science – Geoffrey West
Luis Bettencourt
Cellular Automata – Stephen Wolfram
The Uses of Disorder – Richard Sennett
Rather than a Unified Theory of Emergence applicable to all cities, there are transferable principles:
Economies of Agglomeration rather than Economies of Scale.
Networks versus hierarchies.
Inclusive boundaries (mix of uses).
Bar recommendations:
- Bar Usagi, Shibuya
- The Greek Bar, Suginami
Made in Tokyo, Atelier Bow Wow
Outro: Godzilla, by Blue Oyster Cult
# Urban Design PrinciplesKey concepts for urban planning that emphasize flexible boundaries, mixed-use development, and networked rather than hierarchical structures.
