“Sunlight Forest”: Designing an Inter-Generational Community in Japan

Hao Huang; Liang Zhao; Susan D. Rodiek; Chanam Lee; Manasa Hegde; Kenshi Nishino

This animated 3D fly-through shows a new mixed-use community with diverse multi-functional spaces, including condominiums, senior housing, memory care facilities, a fitness center, and a market district serving the nearby neighborhood. A central pedestrian promenade and nature trails provide safe access to natural environments where residents can engage in health-promoting and intergenerational activities. Sunlight filters through the preserved existing vegetation and new proposed trees, creating a tranquil environment for everyday life.

The marketplace provides fresh food within walking distance, while cafes, restaurants, art and music events, and a kid’s park promote social engagement and attract visitors from other parts of the city. The heart of this community is the “Zocalo” – named for a type of public square or plaza common in Mexico. Located in the center of the marketplace, the zocalo is surrounded by contemporary Japanese style buildings with retail on the ground floor, and housing on the upper floors. Terraces and balconies overlook the public activities below, with special events, outdoor dining areas, and landscaping that creates an attractive plaza where residents and visitors can rest and enjoy the atmosphere.

The main promenade leads from the marketplace to a traditional Japanese teahouse with gardens, an orchard, and a small putting green. At the north end of the promenade, an open amphitheater on a hillside provides an overview of the community and surrounding natural scenery. Both the fitness center and the teahouse take advantage of existing wooded slopes, with elevators providing convenient accessibility between the upper and lower levels of the site. Overall, the community has many places to rest and enjoy nature, with views of the sunset and sunrise, nearby Mount Adachi, and even downtown Kitakyushu.

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