Project

The Naka River runs between Ohashi Campus, one of the bases of the SD Course, and JR Takeshita Station. This is a second-class river that flows directly into Hakata Bay from Nakasu. In the past, students of the Design Department have cleaned up the river and rafted down it, so it is also a place with which we have a special and historic relationship with. We have been practicing design research focussed on the Nakagawa river in a embodied manner. Students have explored the river and riverside environment by foot, bicycle, and SUP board, proposed architecture and landscaping for NAKAHUB, a river base that connects the community, proposed digital art based on research into the cultural background, and worked with local schools to create student-led T-shirt art. We are also engaged in dialogue with the local government regarding the river environment with the cooperation of the Sea and Wind School ( Fukuoka Kaihin Sports Promotion Association). In addition, we are working to create a new forum for co-creation called the Naka River Future Conference (Nakagawa Mirai Kaigi), involving several faculty members of the Graduate School of Art and Design, the Mizubeling Fan Club Fukuoka, local government, businesses, and other organizations and citizens. Through these innovative activities, we aim to build a rich relationship with society, the natural ecosystem.