Modern Architecture in Okinawa and its Regional Expression in the Context of Culture and Climate

摘要

This paper considers the architectural activity of regionalism that shows the expression of the climate and local identity using modem architectural methods of Okinawa which is located in the south of Japan.The development of architectural culture in Okinawa was different from the rest of mainland Japan, because Okinawa is located in a subtropical climate and the Ryukyu Kingdom long existed there, separate from rest of Japan.In 1945 Okinawa was the burnt to the ground during World War Ⅱ.For the rehabilitation of Okinawa, modem construction methods, which included reinforced concrete construction, were used instead of the conventional wood construction methods of the past.For approximately 2 decades until the 1970s, the methods spread rapidly throughout the building industry of Okinawa and established themselves as the main construction methods there This paper focuses on an Okinawan architect, Kinjyo Nobuyoshi who played an active role around the 1970s and had a great influence on the Okinawan building industry.He groped for create a fusion of modern architectural methods with traditional Okinawan architecture and he employed three characteristic methods: (1) A fence for visual control (traditionally called Hinpun),(2) Space beneath deep eaves (traditionally called Amahaji) (3) Hybrid construction with reinforced concrete and wood.