A Study on Transition of Image toward Tower-Sturctured Facilities

Abstract

Tower-structured facilities, like electric wave towers, take intensive impact toward the adjacent landscape with their large scale, height and industrial appearance, especially when they are constructed within or close to downtown. There are cases of the assimilation into their surroundings with the installation of public access, and also of taking on quite identical existence to be a prominent symbol of the district, with the emphasis of its optical appearance.Taking the Tokyo-Tower as a case study, this study aims to manifest the transition of image toward tower-structured facilities by text analysis with articles of newspaper, magazine, and content of description in popular songs. The transition of image is obtained as follows;(1) Right after the construction in 1958: Symbol of economic growth, breakthrough toward the developed countries, height and modernism (2) Until the light-up project in 1989: Decadence of relative height (caused by the construction of skyscrapers around) and Slight perception of its existence (3) After the light-up project: Revitalization of existence from novel viewpoint (e.g. waterfront) along with waterfront development in 1980's This conclusion can suggest design value of tower-structured facilities in future, i.e.(1) Assimilation and (2) Emphasis of its Existence.