ZEMCH 2019 International Conference Proceedings April.2020 | Page 80
1. Introduction
In Japan, the overall population is decreasing [1]. The number of senior residents in the country
has been on the rise, estimated at almost one quarter of the population [2]. On the other hands, the
birthrate of children is decreasing nationwide [3]. These socio‐demographical circumstances might
contribute to increasing the vacant rate of existing houses [4] particularly in rural areas; thus, they help
widen the economic void in Japan. Accordingly, the local community is diluting in terms of the
population and associated economic and social activities. Then, a question arises: how do rural
communities in Japan develop the system to maintain the substantial populations that affect local
economy and social engagement activities? Traditional regional bases in Japanese residential areas have
been premised on gathering and interacting with residents. However, in an aging residential area, it is
becoming difficult for people in the area to become attractive activities. Furthermore, for the
sustainability of the region, it is necessary not only to gather and interact but also to create a local
attraction that attracts new residents. This study selected a community based in the outskirts of the
Fukuoka city, particularly the area around the Kaminagao Terrace building, which was used to be an
abandoned vacant two‐story house. In this case building, Do‐It‐Yourself (DIY) activities were utilized
for the housing refurbishment, in which anyone inside and outside the community can participate. The
purpose of this study is to examine the process of creating attractive communities in which housing
vacancy rate is growing by documenting the process of spatial formation and human engagement as
well as conducting observational surveys of the Kaminagao Terrace and the community. The Hiigawa
area in Jonan‐ku, Fukuoka City, where the Kaminagao Terrace is located, is a sprawl area that has
shifted from farmland to residential areas after the war (Fig.1). Due to the inconvenience of being far
from the railway and subway stations, the number of vacant houses has increased in recent years due
to old apartments. The owner of Kaminagao Terrace has succeeded in regenerating the rental lease
inherited from his grandfather with a new management method using DIY renovation and bringing
creators into the area as residents. However, if the area itself must be attractive, the population will
decrease, and as a result, it will be difficult to manage rental housing. Then, He opened Kamiogao
Terrace because he wanted to create and communicate the charm of this area. Kaminagao Terrace is
located along the main street in the area connecting the residential area and the shopping district, with
a river and a pedestrian bridge in front of them (Fig.2). A vacant house on the first floor was a former
beauty salon and the second floor was a house, and the construction of the first floor cafe was completed
in July 2016 (Fig.3). After that, He continued to make places with his friends in DIY, and the second
floor completed late was a rental space.
Figure 1. Location of Kaminagao Terrace and Social Engagement Players and Users
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ZEMCH 2019 International Conference l Seoul, Korea