year | field

Elements of urban environment sought by people who generate vitality in cities
-Based on surveys of the needs of knowledge workers and creators-

summary

The environment surrounding cities is being changed by the globalization of economies, borderless personnel procurement and advances in information technology (IT). For cities to be the source of vitality in the 21st century, they need to attract industries (companies) who generate vitality, and the personnel (individuals) supporting these industries. Cities must create the conditions that stimulate activities on a continuous basis. This study aims to firstly identify the needs of industries and individuals through questionnaire surveys and interviews, and secondly, examine ways to improve the environment of urban centers in Tokyo and other major cities to better serve these people. As a reference, similar surveys were conducted in several fast-growing and vibrant cities in East Asia that are now Tokyo's major competitors.

In FY2003, questionnaire surveys were distributed to companies located in three parts of Tokyo (Sakuragaokacho in Shibuya Ward, Minami Aoyama in Minato Ward and Kanda Jinbocho in Chiyoda Ward) and three cities in East Asia (Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei). The survey investigated the urban environmental factors that a company considers in choosing its corporate location, the degree of satisfaction of the location selected and intentions of moving away from that location. In FY2004, knowledge workers and creators (foreign residents living in Tokyo and Japanese residents living in Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei) were interviewed to find out about the elements of the urban environments where they worked. Scholars and experts were also interviewed.

The premise of the study is that "urban-center-based industries" that bring vitality to cities are high-value-adding and labor-intensive industries that create new concepts and content, regardless of the type of business. Individuals and their networks create new concepts and content that can generate new values. To maximize the potential of these individuals, an urban environment that suits their lifestyles, needs and tastes should be encouraged.

The first direction in creating such an urban environment that can attract people who have the potential to enhance the vitality of cities is to make each area attractive, and eventually make the entire city attractive. The attractiveness of the area is a major concern for companies in choosing their location. Prestigious locations are like famous-brand goods that are highly trusted. People with the potential to enhance the vitality of cities are concerned about urban environmental factors, such as the availability of greenery and open water and the level of excitement, that allow them to switch between their working and private lives, to relax and to get stimulation. Tokyo residents who have come to Japan from Europe and North America also value historical elements. Demand for ease of travel, as well as an infrastructure that supports a 24-hour lifestyle, is high. No single part of the city can satisfy all these needs; if all districts of the city look alike, the overall evaluation of the city will be lower. A city with distinctive areas, each fostering unique features, can increase the attractiveness of the city as a whole.

The second direction is to create an urban environment that stimulates interaction among people. There should be physical "places" where people can meet face-to-face. There should be a grouping together of people and companies in the same industry. We need to establish an environment that facilitates both work and the creation of new businesses, by supporting these people in their efforts to find places to work, for example. A city should be "open" as a premise to attract people who can create new content and concepts. To attract foreign residents to an "open" city there should be triggers to entice them to come to Japan and create opportunities for interaction that will make them want to return and stay longer.

Based on these surveys, the study focuses on the characteristics of the lifestyles and work-styles of knowledge workers and creators, and proposes two directions for city planning to stimulate the generation of ideas: first, to "create a city having linkages between work-life and recreation, " or a city center in which it is easy to move from one place to another; and second, to "create areas for creative thinking" or places that inspire creative thinking.

The public sector can provide basic infrastructure to foster the growth of a city, can create visions to enable each area to encourage its distinctive features, and can create a framework where local people can develop their community. After that, the public sector should "step back" and let the major players do the rest.

Requests for an "easy to use" transportation systems, "easy to find" housing, and a safe and secure "easy to live" environment were expressed during the interviews and through the questionnaire surveys. There are many challenges to be met to improve the urban environment. It is proposed that a "universal" city friendly to people with different needs (e.g., language, physical requirements) can attract people who will bring vitality and viability to the city.

Key words

urban environment, vitality, competitiveness, area attractiveness, urban-based industries, knowledge workers, creators

issue

Reports No.66/2006 Mar.

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