ABSTRACT
After decades of research and hundreds of realized S/I (skeleton/infill) projects, in 2009, the Japanese central government began implementing an act providing incentives to developers to build long-lasting residential projects. By the end of March 2019, more than 1 million such dwellings have been realized, both single-family and multi-family. This chapter tells the story of developments leading up to the 2009 law and prospects for the future of Japanese housing in the spirit of the Open Building approach.
The Japanese Government, universities and industrial corporations have collaborated at various times in advancing housing standards, particularly the longevity and adaptability of the building stock. Adaptable infill systems like movable partitions and movable storage are examples of design solution to make housing units fit for the changes of life over several decades of residency. Longer life housing with adaptable infill, which preserves buildings by encouraging them to adapt to change, is at the heart of housing solutions for a sustainable future because it significantly reduces the waste of materials for building construction. A number of recent technical innovations show the potential for even greater flexibility in both the new and existing housing stock. Innovative technologies are expected to become the most essential force for the development of housing in Japan, and the tradition of collaborative relations among the government, academia and industry in Japan will continue to be the most effective way to promote innovation in the housebuilding and construction industries.
