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[Erasmus Mobility] DSU & Chiba University
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ADCC Admin 2026-08-10 09:38
Dongseo University Students Explore the Role of Design in Urban Regeneration in Japan
Through the “Asian Design Erasmus Mobility Program,” students visit urban regeneration and design sites in Tokyo and Chiba
Students from Dongseo University participated in the “Asian Design Erasmus Mobility Program,” visiting a range of urban regeneration and design sites in Japan and exploring the role of design in connecting cities and people through exchanges with a local university. The program focused on Tokyo and Chiba, where students visited Azabudai Hills, 2K540 AKI-OKA ARTISAN, Chiba University, HELLO GARDEN, and Tokyo Midtown Design Hub. Through these visits, they compared Japanese cases with urban regeneration projects in Busan and considered new possibilities for applying similar approaches.
<Exploring Urban Regeneration at Azabudai Hills>
As the first destination of the program, students visited Azabudai Hills, one of Tokyo’s major urban regeneration projects.
They examined how large-scale architecture, green spaces, and pedestrian areas are integrated into a cohesive urban environment, gaining insight into the importance of spatial planning that considers not only architectural design itself but also how people move through and use a place.
Students were particularly impressed by the seamless connection between architecture and landscaping, which encourages people to walk, stay, and spend time in the area.
<Exploring 2K540 AKI-OKA ARTISAN>
Students then visited 2K540 AKI-OKA ARTISAN to examine a case in which an existing urban space has been transformed into a commercial and cultural destination. The space brings together workshops, craft studios, and handmade-product shops in a continuous setting, creating an environment where not only tourists but also local residents can browse, relax, and spend time.
By comparing 2K540 with B-Con Ground in Busan, students reflected on the fact that simply creating a new physical space is not enough to attract sustained visitation. They recognized the importance of developing content that gives people a reason to visit while also connecting spatial characteristics, circulation, and activities in ways that encourage people to move naturally through the area and stay longer.
<Urban Regeneration Exchange and Design Education Spaces at Chiba University>
At Chiba University, students participated in an exchange session on urban regeneration with Professor Ikjoon Chang. They presented examples of urban regeneration in Busan and Japan that they had prepared in advance, as well as their own ideas for future urban regeneration projects. Following the presentations, they received feedback from Professor Chang and had the opportunity to review and further develop their ideas from different perspectives.
Students also visited newly developed design-related facilities at Chiba University, where they observed how spatial design can encourage movement, interaction, and the exchange of ideas among students.
The visit demonstrated that educational spaces can function as more than conventional classrooms. By enabling students to observe one another’s work, exchange opinions, and develop new ideas together, the physical environment itself can serve as an educational tool.
<Exploring the Community-Based Space HELLO GARDEN>
At HELLO GARDEN in Nishi-Chiba, students explored a community space developed through local resident participation. Originally an unused site, the space has gradually been cultivated and used by residents and has now become a place for relaxation, conversation, events, and workshops.
Through this case, students learned that urban regeneration does not necessarily require large-scale construction or the development of entirely new facilities. They also recognized that creating room for local residents to become active participants in shaping and managing a space, rather than remaining passive users, can be an important element of sustainable urban regeneration.
<Visiting “Graphic Design in Japan 2026” at Tokyo Midtown Design Hub>
The final destination was Tokyo Midtown Design Hub, where students visited the “Graphic Design in Japan 2026” exhibition. Through a wide range of works, including posters, packaging, branding, and editorial design, students examined how Japanese graphic design communicates information while also visually expressing the identity of brands and places.
For students majoring in Advertising and Public Relations, the exhibition provided an opportunity to reconsider graphic design not simply as a form of visual expression, but as a mode of communication that creates impressions and experiences and helps audiences remember messages.
<Exploring Urban Regeneration and Design in Japan>
Through the program, students came to understand that urban regeneration and design in Japan go beyond changing the physical appearance of spaces. Rather, they are developed with careful consideration of human behavior, user experience, and relationships within local communities.
In particular, students compared the architecture and landscaping of Azabudai Hills, the integration of content and spatial management at 2K540, and the community participation model of HELLO GARDEN with urban regeneration cases in Busan, allowing them to consider new possibilities for future applications.
Their visit to Chiba University also provided an opportunity to receive expert feedback and directly experience design education spaces, encouraging them to think about the relationship between space, content, and people from multiple perspectives.
One student reflected, “Through this program, I learned that urban regeneration does not end with creating a new space. It is equally important to design the experiences and content that encourage people to visit, use, and return to that space.” The student added, “When looking at urban regeneration in Busan in the future, I would like to consider the unique characteristics of each area and the participation of local residents, and think more deeply about how design can connect people and places.”
