Project Overview

Accommodation to create a community business
Refresh the area business at LOHAS studio

Work with Miyagi Zao Regional Development Promotion Council（incorporated association），Zao-cho of Miyagi Prefecture，Zao-cho Tourist Association and Shiraishi-Zao Forestry Association，to makes research on the land・LOHAS studio,a necessary hold-up facilities for building a Zao-style exchange ecomomy which involves citizens,discuss the development of new products and try out oprating and manufacturing with local-made wood.

 

1.Background and Needs

Backed by Zao-cho mountain，Zao-cho, Miyagiken-oki, pays much attention to
Agricultural culture and persist in the cooperation spirit，according to the basic
theories that the residents are protagonist and the area isthe main part of the town
construction. Zao-cho, called the Healing Land of the World, has a great reputation as
hot springs tourist resort.

Under the tendency of Population Aging and Thin-population, Zao-cho further
developed the town constructions and solved the financial problems by the actively
and effectively use of reginal property. The present task is to unify the
object and great value of intergration of the town and townees.

Then，extensive awareness and knowledge of the residents who moved to the area from out of town villas, to work together through technology exchange and collaboration. Such exchanges can generate new impetus for children and young groups to settle in and be able to promote population growth. Although the amount of tourists (Tourism, accommodation, tourism facilities)enter the county ranked second only to matsusima, but relying solely on the former narrow the tourism industry can no longer be maintained. Especially in the wave of eco-tourism, the retention of travel patterns are being converted to the semi-settlement and settlement. It can be expected that the number of population exchange  will increase, and  the protagonist is not the tourists, but the farmers and forestry workers from the different world. Construction workers are not exception either.

"The political proposal for promoting turism of Gongcheng County"puts forward that people should focus on the communication between those who working for touring industry and the citizens in the area". On the one hand, due to public investment and housing start rate reduction, economic depress sion and materials, price spikes and the resulting intensified competition in the construction industry's turnover, compared with last year earnings fell by 20 ~ 30%, which is a few years ago half the battle. Possession of equipment operation rate is low, hiring of technical  workers is difficult. The development of products which a lifestyle is Considered is in an urgent need. However, the current situation of SMEs and individual property owners alone it is difficult to solve.

The aim of zao-cho is to develop the economy in the zao area of miyagi with great natural environment and the main goal of the development is to create projects as well as products related to promoting physical and mental health and construction of environmental Lohas society. To address these issues, a combination of construction and tourism・non-tourism， to support the revitalization of the region's tourism and urban construction cooperation is indispensable.

2. Project Description and Features

【Business Planning】

  1. Miyagi Zao Regional Development Promotion Council（incorporated association），Zao-cho，Shiroishi-Zao Forestry Association，Zao-cho Tourist Association  work with　 authorized people including residents，to discuss the product development of the SOHO-type Stranded Experience Facility“LOHAS studio”by user servey and research of Advanced eco-friendly wood house.
  2. By setting "LOHAS receptionist" who support a new way to live and expanding knowledge exchange and active use in villa，to expand on the hope that settlers (social entrepreneurs) support policy and the exchange of Miyagi Zao-based economy, and discuss its possibilities.
  3. Having a discussion about activities such as Farmer Partnership and Forestry Experience, which interpret agroforestry and greentourism and reveal the lifestyles and economic models of both settlers and semi-settlers.
     

【Prototype Implementation】

  1. Using Zao local cedar wood to develop a hybrid type of housing，which is 22 ping (about 73 ㎡) and of the value of ¥ 550 . As a challenge to the lowest price in Japan，the group unite as one team to try to built the following two kinds of housing which is used in communication business:(1)SOHO type (office and residential) (2)Kitchen Studio "movable type" housing, with 35 • S (35-year fixed interest rate and apply to support system for accessing excellent residential) ，at the price of 5.5 million yen. This has a great contribution to extensive use of local timber and the preparation of recycling-based multi-storied plantation.
  2. Having a center of the above-mentioned experience facility, the LOHAS Studio, pro-environmental cabin, this project as a trial implementation of Zao communication business with locals' participation will improve public relations and promote the symbiosis of the Capital Circle, and bring a great effect into the economic revitalization policy of local activation and construction industry.About the implementation of the business，it will not stop at the stage of resolving issues. When the  business is being conducted，we will sent "LOHAS receptionist" to resident for contacting  various groups, NPO, business and the executive branch, to support the settlers and semi-settlers for remaining half of the settlers for the exchange of experience-based economy, support,

3. Implementation structure of the project

【Miyagi Zao Regional Development Promotion Council（incorporated association）】
Construction workers and engineers unite as one and put all the effort into designing work of the housing  which costs 550 million yen.Usually， promoting this business needs key persons. However ，we will depend on the local producer who promote the business and officials of construction groups. They play tirelessly with the spirit and leadership  to command the trying of building and  support social entrepreneurs who is aiming at communication business.

【Zao cho】
Various regional organizations, to promote understanding of the town, and to spread the circle of consensus, by the total farm business Partnerships.

【Shiraishi Zao Forestry Association】
Teaching the methods of Impart on the special combination of wood quality construction methods and materials selection, timber.

【Zao-town Tourist Association】
Opening forums and public relations in the metropolitan area.
Promoting settlement and semi-settlement  through the symbiosis and convection.
Supporting the influx of SOHO businesses.

・External collaboration partners
【miyagi  zao association of  promoting　LOHAS-style housingandlife to promote 】
The purpose is to create a continued developping society group, relating to food, environment, energy, etc, with members like Orutana, Life-security Designing Department of Northeast Industrial University, and De Lohas Promoting Congress，Zao Garden.

 

4.Implementation Schedule
estimated start time：August 2009~ estimated finish time ：June 2010

●2009
August~December  Holding  seminar and surveying needs of users
Late august       Inspection and investigation of the field（China International Green Wood Residential Expo 2009/Shanghai)
September~October publicize through the metropolitan（by magazine）and on the internet
November         making a plan of the business
Holding“forum about miyagi zao”at Tokyo to discuss the design of communication business housing at miyagi zao.
1.SOHO type Residential
2.Residential　with kitchen
3.experience facility of Accommodation type（Ancillary facilities and eco-cabin）

●2010 January~April
①test construction of SOHO type Residential
②test construction of Residential　with kitchen
③test construction of experience facility of Accommodation type（Ancillary facilities and eco-cabin）
April～May, to publicize the effectuation of detention experience facility and creativity of Miyagi Zao Communication Business.
Jun, to preparing report and finishing project.
*A few minor adjustments might be made to the plan according to the actual condition.