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Architectural and Urban Planning Lab
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A lab that plans and designs architecture, cities, and regions by looking at how people relate to space.
AboutAbout the lab
Studying people and space, from buildings to regions
The Architectural and Urban Planning Lab (Kita Lab) examines the relationship between people and space in depth, and conducts research and practice on the planning and design of architectural, urban, and regional spaces.
It takes a "human-environment system" perspective, in which humans and their environment evolve and develop together, covering scales from buildings to cities and regions.
Building on the concept of "regional context"—that space is supported by invisible social organization, economic structures, and topography and ground—it conducts field studies in villages, cities, and new towns in Japan and abroad.
By reading how space comes into being, the lab links this to spatial planning and community development that make people and society vibrant.
Key terms
- Regional context
- A concept that captures the social organization, image structure, and economic structure, as well as the topography and ground, that support the space people experience
- Human-environment system
- The idea that humans and their environment are one and evolve and develop together
NewsLab news
A master's student received an Excellence Award at the Haseko Housing Design Competition
In recognition of its activities related to the Expo, the lab received the Dean of the Graduate School of Engineering Special Award
Students were selected for the top prize and excellence prizes at the graduation design presentation and jury
A student's proposal was selected for an Excellence Award and the Tajima Encouragement Award in the Architectural Institute of Japan's design competition
ResearchResearch themes
The lab conducts research and practice on the planning and design of architectural, urban, and regional spaces so that people, society, and communities can become better and richer from the past into the future. Its scope is broad: from buildings to cities and regions in scale, from architectural planning and urban planning to rural planning in discipline, and from memory and history to visions of the future in time.
*Illustrative imageRethinking the Core of Today's Communities
Using the keywords of reintegrating temples, churches, and mosques with schools, markets, and livelihoods, school consolidation, and community reorganization, the lab envisions and puts into practice the "core of the community" for the present day.
*Illustrative imageRenovation-Based Community Development and Dual-Location Living
Using the keywords fishing villages, depopulated areas, business creation, renovation of old traditional houses, and starting a company, the lab promotes renovation-based community development and dual-location living.
*Illustrative imageCommunity Development Classes Centered on Schools
Using the keywords club activities, improvement of informal urban areas, and collaboration among communities, NPOs, and local government, the lab develops classes on "school-centered community development."
*Illustrative imageImproving Informal Urban Areas and Slums
Targeting informal urban areas and slums in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, the lab works on improvement using the keywords land management, translation of tradition, community reorganization, and autonomous improvement.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Architectural and Urban Planning Lab consist of faculty members, visiting faculty and researchers, project researchers, administrative assistants, and doctoral, master's, and fourth-year undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorMichihiro Kita
- Associate ProfessorShigeki Matsubara
- Assistant ProfessorDukwoo Kim
- Project Associate ProfessorMiwa Sugita
- Project Associate ProfessorAyako Matsumoto
- Project Assistant ProfessorHiroshi Tsuji
- Project Assistant ProfessorAlaa Alsherfawi Aljazaery
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Sugaura201905” Hiyotchi / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Rethinking the Core of Today's Communities: “Heights Community Center Albuquerque 2003” Camerafiend / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Renovation-Based Community Development and Dual-Location Living: “Unique fishing village in Hong Kong floating on the sea” Yourusernamewillbepublic2 / CC0 (cropped)
- Community Development Classes Centered on Schools: “Hanwell Community Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1178170” J Taylor / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Improving Informal Urban Areas and Slums: “Kinawataka Slums, Kampala” Micheal Kaluba / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Architectural and Urban Form Engineering Lab): “Urban planning museum - Model of a Shanghai bridge” Jordiferrer / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Transport and Regional Planning Lab): “Ds-low-100” FWeidner / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Architecture and Urban Human Factors Lab): “Belmayne housing estate” Torlogh (talk) (Uploads) / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Architectural and Urban Environmental Engineering Lab): “Air conditioning office building roof - public building air conditioning in Tokyo” Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
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