Paper short abstract:

This paper attempts to re-define the meaning of the word "privacy" in architecture in this age of infinite information and communication technologies by approaching it through the channel of artificial intelligence (AI) and its relationship with the contemporary Japanese architecture.

Paper long abstract:

Hiroki Enno's "Exograph" project records participant's 24/7 in their most intimate vicinities - homes! The notion of recording their most private sexual activities is not even a problem as it is absolutely a human necessity, Enno proclaims. Hoan Ton-That's facial recognition app - "Clearview AI" - provides access to more than three billion photographs to hundreds of law enforcement agencies without even the consent of their owners. On a mega-scale we all are aware of the surveillance activities being carried out by Chinese government officials on the people of China and in other countries as well either directly or indirectly with the slogan of reverting societies from a dystopian to utopian ones.

While these entrepreneurs present their work as an antithesis to the information handling policies of and something that has never been attempted before by the Silicon Valley giants of Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google (FANG) or even the government of the United States of America; the meaning of the word privacy (viewed through Maslow's theory of human motivation's attributes in ascending order of physiological, safety, love, esteem and self-actualization) needs to be absolutely re-defined in this age of infinite information and communication technologies (ICT). As artificial intelligence (AI) develops itself into a technology taking over the professions of majority; this paper attempts to seek a justifiable answer to the question of the kind of space or the concept of spatialization that we are going to inhabit in this age where the conception of the phenomenon of "privacy" is leading us towards an anti-liberal, dictated architectural paradigm. With a particular focus on Japan and its technological innovations this paper proposes the collaboration of AI and contemporary Japanese architecture either as a space or as spatialization focusing on the narratives of:

1. Monetizing life data of people for their living.

2. Redefining information as a space or spatialization through the media of Sendai Mediatheque and Gifu Media Cosmos, Japan.

3. Redefining the graying, acute labor shortage and deformation of traditional families through common platform technologies of AI, IoT and big data; summarized as Society 5.0 in Japan.

Paper short abstract:

In this study, I examine Kitahoricho in Matsue, which has a standard of landscaping. This study was developed with two aims: clarifying the relation between residents' feelings and the development of the housing landscape and outlining the problems and conceptions of landscaping in castle towns.

Paper long abstract:

Currently, people are focusing on regional characteristics of particular communities in Japan. A similar tendency can also be seen concerning landscapes in tourism-oriented communities and local revitalization efforts. While the government has enacted some laws for landscape improvement, residents' houses are unlikely to be targeted by this legislation because most people perceive the exterior of a house as a personal matter. We can find them near historical structures, such as castles. A castle becomes key in landscaping. In the case that residents perceive characteristics that are relegated only to their region, to what extent should historical atmosphere be considered? Residents' feelings in such contexts have not been well-researched.

In this study, I examine Kitahoricho, which has a castle and an old atmosphere. The area exhibits a standard of landscaping. This study was developed with two aims: clarifying the relation between residents' feelings and the development of the housing landscape and outlining the problems and conceptions of landscaping in castle towns. The primary method consisted of interviews with local government officials and research conducted on building styles. Questionnaires were also utilized to understand residents' consciousness of landscape. Regarding the period before creating the landscape formation standard, I examined the situation at that time using the materials stored by the residents. The results indicate complex feelings of residents toward this issue. Additionally, it was confirmed that there were many issues regarding consensus building and continuation of activities among the residents.