A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF THE BUILDERS FOR MACHIZUKURI CONSIDERING HISTORIC AREAS OF REGIONAL CITIES

Abstract

YUASA Town was selected as the Important Preservation Areas for Groups of Historic Buildings in 2006. After that, the restoration is executed with steady steps every year. However, the restoration and the use of traditional buildings in YUASA Town were not started suddenly, the process had been carried out step by step by volunteer residents and builders before the preservation process has been applied. This paper aims to search the role of builders who joined in YUASANO-MACHINAMI-KENKYU-KAI whose activity is revitalizing the traditional buildings as Machizukuri property to be suitable with the current resident's life. We analyzed the actual conditions of the restoration about the traditional buildings done for Machizukuri, and examined the role of builders who took part in the process. The results are as follows; 1)Many builders who joined in Machizukuri, are individual or small firm managers. 2) The activity of Machizukuri which was carried out since the early stage where the rule and guidline were unsettled, has stimulated the builder's participation and interest. 3) Each builder involved in the restoration of traditional buildings in different ages with different process and adjusted their role according to changed social needs. 4) As full time working on this kind of restoration is financially difficult, the builders have been maintaining their management by conducting other business.