To be the commercial facility of choice “Space” content that generates liveliness and peace of mind

Shopping malls and other large commercial facilities are not just for shopping; they are also places that provide entertainment in which to spend time. Data shows that the longer people spend in a facility, the more purchases they make. Therefore, the ability to provide a comfortable and enjoyable space to spend time is an important factor in creating a lively atmosphere in a facility. Under these circumstances, facility design centered on plazas is attracting attention. The existence of a space where people can gather and create a lively atmosphere enhances the value of the facility in the community and makes it truly an essential part of the local community. In addition, the space can also serve as a disaster prevention function to protect the community in the event of a disaster. Let’s take a look at the development of such places in commercial facilities.

Relationship between time spent and purchasing behavior

These were the top answers in a survey of consumers’ reasons for visiting a certain commercial facility. What we can see here is that there are quite a few people who “have no specific purpose” when they visit commercial facilities. In fact, when we look back at our own shopping behavior, aside from shopping at food supermarkets, etc., where the purpose is relatively clear, when we go to a large commercial facility, is it not more about “going there” than “what to buy”? Shopping is not just about buying what you need; it is also about enjoying the time you spend there, and in a sense, it is almost like entertainment. In this sense, the commercial facilities that are chosen by consumers are important not only for the lineup of tenants and products, but also for the content of the “place” and “space” where people can spend their time.

An interesting piece of data that we would like to introduce is the “Station Building Touring Behavior Survey” conducted by the jeki Station Consumption Center (JR East Japan Planning Co., Ltd.). According to this survey, “people who stay longer but have no desire to shop” spend more on purchases than “people who have a desire to shop but stay shorter”. The respondents did not visit a store with the intention of buying something in the first place, but rather just stopped by and walked around the store. The longer they spend in the store, the more likely they are to actually make a purchase. Of course, the data from station buildings may not be directly transferable to other types of facilities. However, for commercial facilities, the fact that the length of time spent in a store influences consumer behavior is one of the major points of interest.

Valuable space created by system trusses

How to increase the time customers spend in the store? For commercial facilities, the “place” for this purpose is becoming increasingly important. For example, many shopping malls have atrium structures at the entrance or in the center of the facility to provide space for events. While mini-concerts and other seasonal events can attract a certain number of visitors, we have also heard some say that “it was difficult to secure a flow line for customers during events,” “people got stuck at the entrance to tenant stores,” or, more recently, “it was difficult to hold indoor events due to infection control measures.

This is why we have been focusing on facility design that utilizes a large outdoor space as an event plaza. By placing a plaza in the center and surrounding it with stores, customers spending time in the plaza are encouraged to “take a peek over there,” which leads to purchases. In addition, the placement of benches and tables around the plaza will make it possible for customers to stay longer. In addition, the placement of benches and tables around the facility is expected to increase the number of visitors who come to the facility to stroll around and enjoy the open space, which in turn will lead to purchases.

Naturally, outdoor facilities are greatly affected by weather factors. Installing a roof would be a solution, but there are problems such as “the presence of a roof spoils the scenery,” “it creates a feeling of oppression in the space,” “the pillars create dead space,” and “there is concern about collapse due to earthquakes, etc.” Taiyo Kogyo’s space structure system solves these problems and concerns.

The truss structure is a long-established structural form that basically consists of a collection of triangles as the basic unit. This is because the bending moment, the force that tries to bend a member, does not occur in adjacent members, and only tensile and compressive forces are applied to the member when a load is applied. The roof can be stably supported without the need for many columns.

TM truss is a system construction method based on these truss structure functions that greatly improves construction efficiency, strength, and design flexibility. Bolts in factory-made steel pipes are connected to threaded holes in steel balls (globes), which are then assembled and expanded into flat plates. The entire process, from basic design to implementation design, computer analysis, drawing production, construction design, production design, factory manufacturing, and installation, is managed by a dedicated computer system. The high component precision and the fact that no welding work other than for bearing components is required during on-site installation not only increases construction efficiency, but also achieves a high level of quality stability. In addition to being used on the roofs of many stadiums, arenas, and gymnasiums, the system is also highly trusted as a structural system that maximizes the effective use of space in commercial facilities and station facilities.

One of the features of TM trusses is their light weight: the weight of a roof structure formed by TM trusses is about half that of a conventional steel structure. In addition, in the event of an earthquake, the effect of the shaking on the substructure is greatly minimized, so the risk of collapse or damage is extremely small.

One of the advantages of using TM trusses as outdoor facilities is their compatibility with membranes: the performance of the TM trusses themselves, combined with the lightweight properties of the membranes, can create a space that is spacious, bright, and less oppressive. Furthermore, a membrane roof maintains a certain level of brightness while reflecting the light that causes heat, resulting in lower temperatures under the roof compared to metal slates and other materials. Naturally, the temperature of the covered space is also lower, creating a comfortable space that is effective in preventing heat stroke in the summer. In addition, photocatalytic membranes have a self-cleaning function that breaks down dirt adhering to the membrane surface and washes it away with rain, so they do not require cleaning or other maintenance and always retain their original beauty.

Roadside Stations Evolving into Regional Centers

地域活性化のために商業施設の持つポテンシャルを利用するという点で注目を集めているのが道の駅です。国土交通省の『国土のグランドデザイン2050』によれば、「商店、診療所など、日常生活に不可欠な施設・機能を歩いて動ける範囲に集めた『小さな拠点』を形成し、周辺集落と交通ネットワークで結ぶことにより、持続可能な地域づくりを推進」するとしており、その核拠点の一つに道の駅があげられています。

現在、道の駅は全国に1,180（2020年7月１日時点）。もともとはドライバー向けの休憩施設という面から整備が進められてきましたが、現在ではそんな「ゲートウェイ」（観光等によって地域外から活力を呼び込む）機能だけでなく、地域住民の暮らしを支える「地域センター」としての役割を担う道の駅も増えています。具体的には診療所、役場機能などを備えたワンストップでの住民サービスの提供、高齢者のためのデイサービス機能、運動場での地域行事の開催、バスターミナルを整備して地域集落の高齢者の移動手段を確保するなど、さまざまな取り組みも始まっています。

こうした地域センター機能をより有効とするためにも、場の環境整備は大きな鍵を握っています。施設のバリアフリー化はもちろん、雨天時の利用を考え大屋根の庇による滞留スペースの確保、バスなど交通機関の乗降場やベンチへのシェルターの設置、親子連れから高齢者まで多くの人が日常的に集い、交流できる広場の存在といった利便性、快適性の向上が、人が集まる仕掛けづくりとなるからです。

 

最近では地方バス路線の統廃合などにより、移動手段がなくなった高齢者の移動手段として、道の駅を中心に自動運転バスなどを走らせ、新たな地域の交通インフラ、ネットワークを整備するための社会実証実験もスタートしています。こうした取り組みにおいても、自動運転と自家用車が交わらないゾーニング。来場者が目的の場所へと移動しやすい案内機能などの整備は重要です。一般的な道の駅は平面状に低層の施設が点在するレイアウトが多いことから、これにはシェルターを連続的に展開して乗降場所の利便性を高め、移動通路を分かりやすく明示する駅前広場の事例が参考になるかもしれません

In the event of a disaster, it will serve as a disaster prevention center for the community.

道の駅の持つポテンシャルが大きく注目をされたのが、東日本大震災における防災活動拠点としての役割です。宮城県大崎市の道の駅では自家発電機能を備えていたため施設を24時間開館。住民におにぎりや菓子などを提供し館内に避難者を受け入れたほか、宮城県登米市の施設は自衛隊やレスキュー隊の前進基地として、福島県平田村では地域の病院や避難所への食材提供を行うなどして避難救助活動をサポートしました。

こうした例をもとに、現在、国土交通省では広域的な防災機能拠点として機能する「防災道の駅」を選ぶ認定制度を創設。2021年にも初回認定をスタートさせます。認定にはヘリポートとして利用できる広い駐車場、消防や自衛隊の活動拠点スペースの有無などがあり、この点からも平時には広場や公園として利用し、緊急時に転用が可能な場の存在が重要となります。なかでも屋外のトラスシェルターによる広い屋根空間は、避難物資の備蓄、負傷者のトリアージセンターなど転用の幅が大きく、限られた屋内空間を避難所として利用する上でも有効でしょう。

地域防災への貢献はショッピングセンターなども同じです。災害時には公共施設の損壊などにより、被災自治体の災害対応能力が大きく低下する危険性があります。そうした緊急時、地域の大型商業施設には物資供給、避難場所の提供といった形で自治体活動をサポートする役割が期待されています。事実、東日本大震災などでは屋内駐車場を避難所として開放したり、水や食料の提供を行い、実質的に避難所機能を果たしたショッピングセンターの事例も見られました。

2017年には災害対策基本法に基づく指定公共機関（内閣総理大臣が指定）にスーパー、コンビニなど大手７社が指定され、災害時の支援物資の調達・供給を担うことになりましたが、これ以外にも自治体と商業施設の間で災害時の協力協定を結ぶ動きが各地で進んでいます。平時は人々の憩いの空間であり、その存在が賑わいや交流を生み出し、万一の災害時には一時避難場所などとして地域住民の安全を守る。まさにそのための場づくりの重要性が高まっています。

How to reduce the impact of renovations and additions

In the case of commercial facilities, there is a need to add roofs not only for new buildings, but also for renovations to create new spaces or to add new roofs to the outer perimeter corridors to enhance customer convenience. In addition, there may be a need to build a new roof over an outdoor plaza to provide an evacuation site in the event of a disaster, as mentioned above.

One of the challenges of renovations and additions to commercial facilities is the impact of noise, vibration, and other factors on customers and existing stores. How can such problems be minimized and normal business operations continued? TM Truss has an advantage in this respect as well, as it uses a dedicated computer system to manage the entire process from design to construction. The lightweight, single-component material can be easily carried into tight spaces, and can be installed in a short period of time without the use of large, heavy machinery.

Another strength of the TM truss is its ability to accommodate a variety of design plans, such as a roof covering not only the entire plaza, but also the playground equipment, or a corridor covering the surrounding walkways. There are four basic structural types: , , , and , and the most optimal structure is selected according to the design. Most design shapes can be handled with these four types, but more complex shapes such as curves, circles, and spheres can also be handled with a dedicated program that performs stress calculations and selects appropriate components for new construction, renovations, and extensions.

Summary .

Roofs shelter people from wind, rain, and sunlight, provide comfort to those who use them, and create a lively atmosphere. When people gather, they interact with each other and create some kind of value. The same is true for the plazas in the commercial facilities introduced here. To become a facility that is indispensable to the community and chosen by the community. We will assist in the creation of such valuable spaces with our various products and technologies, including TM trusses.

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