MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Station Facilities planning division hosted a family housing architectural charrette at the Eagle’s Nest here June 22 to review the final floor plans for future family housing aboard the air station.
The final plans for future housing have culminated from previous meetings and surveys, taking into account the station communities’ needs and desires. “Really what we are trying to do is go back to the all-American small town.” said Mark Gillem, principal of The Urban Collaborative who has undertaken the project for future housing aboard the air station. “We are trying to create a sustainable community that uses our resources, which are limited, in a way that is much more efficient.”
Gillem said both he and his team learned though surveys conducted with the community that people wanted great livable units, with easy access to parking and convenient access to work, schools and parks.
“Those survey results have been very important in helping us stay true to the interest and intent of the residents,” said Gillem. “That is who we are here to support.”
Final plans for on-base housing presented at the charrette included blueprints and sketches delineating a community with parks and open space along with a common recreation park with sports fields and a community center.
The final plans also outlined a town center with small store front operations, a family restaurant and a command assembly hall.
Also represented through the sketches were three, two and one story family homes providing ample natural light with covered parking, a variety of public and private spaces, and backyards.
“We’ve got some excellent floor plans,” said Brett James, the director with station facilities planning division. “The community layout is just outstanding. Probably superior to most anything built on any military base around the world.”
Construction is slated to begin in the year 2012 and end in 2014.
Anybody coming to the station in the future has the possibility of moving into one of these homes and the goal is for those coming in to enjoy their living situation, James said.
The plans for future base housing are a result of the future expansion slated to incorporate personnel from Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan and from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan with the station here.