Satoshi NASU’s research while affiliated with Tokyo Institute of Technology and other places

The objective of this paper is to clarify the collective form of buildings and outdoor spaces, such as courtyards and streets, in Manek Chowk area in Ahmedabad, western India. The streets in this area have hierarchical tree system forming block pattern called Pol. In this study, the collective form of buildings and outdoor spaces is described to three phases such as house/group/Pol. As the result we found the two collective systems. One is the supplement system of the outdoor space between courtyard and street the other is the nesting system of each phases.

This study is intended to clarify the characteristics of openness of houses and continuity of indoor spaces by analyzing the composition of functional spaces in California modern houses. The continuity of the indoor spaces are described by the composition of the movable and visible relation between functional spaces. The characteristics of openness of house are classified in combination of the continuity of indoor spaces and the relation between indoor and outdoor spaces. As the result of the classification, 8 types of scheme of openness are identified among the houses of R.M. Schindler and R.J. Neutra. The typical schemes share an opening from the living room toward backside. In Schindler' houses, some schemes tend to have some directions of opening for articulate the house into characteristic places. In Neutra' houses, the prevaring scheme is to have openings to one direction and the continuity of indoor spaces for archiving unity of the houses.

This study is intended to clarify the relation between house and site by analyzing the composition of indoor and outdoor spaces of modern houses. The way of composing house and site is analyzed in relations to streets, comparing the contrast between indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as personal and common spaces. As the result of classification, 9 types of compositional schemes are identified among the houses of Schindler and Neutra. As of these schemes, the architects' interpretation of sites and locations could be described as the regional feature of modern movement. The schemes of their houses are typical characteristics in California modern houses. The typical schemes share a back-outdoor-living space, sometimes with variations around the house, with no compositional difference between personal and common spaces.

This study is intended to clarify the relation between house and site by analyzing the composition of outdoor spaces of modern California houses. The characteristics of outdoor spaces are defined by relation to indoor spaces. The way of composing site and house is analyzed in relations to streets, comparing the characteristics of outdoor spaces. As the result of classification, 6 types of circulation schemes and 9 types of compositional schemes of outdoor spaces are identified in the houses of Schindler and Neutra. Typical circulation schemes are the type in which personal and common spaces are separated in indoor space as well as in outdoor space. And typical compositional schemes share a back-outdoor-living space protecting personal indoor and outdoor spaces.

This study is intended to clarify the architect's vocabulary to represent building materials and frameworks in modern architecture in Southern California. The way to arrange such building elements is typological analyzed and identified some rules based on some axes to compose functional spaces such as living room. In this paper, the spatial composition in R. M. Schindler's residential designs are described by these rules, then their combination revealed the prototypical design principles of Schimdler. By analyzing these principles, the relationship between inside and external living space appeared to be the basis of his actual design, as he described in his theory.

After World War II ended, the Case Study House Program founded by Arts & Architecture editor John Entenza in Southern California gained widespread attention through its architects' thoughtful and innovative consideration of ways to solve the severe housing shortage. This study examines these architects' conceptions of the ideal house by comparing their design theories and building compositions of these houses suggested in the Case Study House Program. While these architects were brought together through the common goal to design the ideal house, their actual designs varied considerably. Therefore, this study compares the architects' individual ideologies as expressed in their designs to examine the multifaceted aspects of this program.

This study is intended to clarify the function of joints in recent post and beam wooden construction systems. It is recognized that each joint consists of three parts : a wooden member and two types of metal fittings. The relationship between posts and beams are categorized into two types. Considering to the timing of setting those members, three stages are common features of the joints. The direction that the beams are connected to other members, and functions of fitting members are clarified. In addition, the degree of dependence of the three parts of many joints is proposed to evaluate the role of joining function.