At the beginning of our Prix de Rome travels, we started in Japan.

In the time since, we have visited many historical and contemporary sites wherein workshops and maker spaces co-existed successfully with residential dwellings.

For our last major research trip, it was only right that we returned to Tokyo. From post-WWII to the contemporary moment, we focused on urban Japan — visiting both ad hoc neighbourhoods with organic roots, and planned neighbourhoods affording opportunities for small entrepreneurs and makers. While walking through the city, we paid careful attention to the overflows of life onto the street and the constituent elements of a vibrant urban experience.