[Public Lecture] September Lecture: "Reading Memories Residing in Places -Architecture and Urban Planning in the AI Era"

The 2026 public lectures are held throughout the year with the main theme of "Architecture and Recommendations for Town-Oriented Appreciation."
The first session of the second half was held on Sunday, September 6th, with the theme "Reading Memories Living in Places —Architecture and Community Development in the AI Era" by Maito Associate Professor Takagi, Otemae University Faculty of Architecture & Arts. A total of 84 people gathered.
At the beginning, Professor Takagi explained that today's performance is not about looking at the buildings themselves, but about reading the place (where the building is) ≒ weaving together memories of the place, focusing on how to view buildings and community development. He explained that by citing examples such as the abandoned houses in Himeji and Iejima, the road signs around Atoa at Kobe Port, Manno Pond in Sanuki, and Shukugawa Green Town, and other buildings from ancient times to the present, he explained that memories are shaped by how people interact with buildings. He also explained that even in AI-generated cityscapes, streetscapes with a sense of everyday life that evoke memories leave a stronger impression than orderly and beautiful streets, and by looking at the actual AI-created illustrations, he explained that these memories are shaped by the actual AI-generated pictures.
Finally, the explanation that buildings do not end with "completion" but rather the subsequent processes of use, change, and nurture are important. On the other hand, from the perspective of the viewer, "seeing traces," "activities," and "relationships" adds depth and makes the building interesting.

<Source: Regional and Social Cooperation Office >