We have been involved in sustainable architecture from early on, compiling a long record of achievements. The ultimate buildings and city complexes we are aiming for will boast zero carbon emissions, full recycling of resources, and coexistence with the ecosystem. We are engaged in daily efforts toward these goals, applying the concept of backcasting to see how close we can come with today’s technological levels and costs.
Our mission is to advance from the stage of incorporating individual eco-technology elements in buildings to merging these elements into whole systems, creating buildings and cities with a balance among the three requirements of design, cost, and the environment, and contributing to the formation of beautiful cityscapes.
Through sustainable architecture and the creation of eco-cities, our aim is to draw on nature on a global scale in providing spaces that give the people living and working there peace of mind, or that stimulate a wealth of senses, as a natural healing force for the spirit.
In November 2007 we established the design industry’s first Sustainable Architecture Laboratory , for the purpose of studying total technology that merges individual eco-technology elements and that balances design, cost, and the environment, and of reflecting this technology in our design work.
The architecture industry today faces rapid advances in eco-technology along with increasingly strict environmental regulations. Moreover, in order to pursue the carbon-neutral ideal, the industry continues to look for innovative architectural design techniques that do not use energy, or that use energy more efficiently, as well as promoting use of renewable green energy and natural building materials.
Against this background, in April 2010 we reorganized our efforts under the Sustainable Architecture Office. In this new organization we are building stronger environment-related knowledge management functions, and endeavoring to present clients with proposals that are at the forefront of the age, through planning, design, and consulting services.
| Technology | Project | |
|---|---|---|
Eco facade |
Kanto Auto Works Ltd. Higashi Fuji Integration Center, Fujitsu Solution Square | |
Geothermal use |
Expo 2005 Aichi Japan, Japan Pavilion Seto; Waseda Research Park Communication Center | |
Rooftop greenery |
Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Complex; Niigata City Aoyama Funeral Hall; Expo 2005 Aichi Japan, Japan Pavilion Seto; Hosei University Junior and Senior High School | |
Wall greenery |
Friends School 120th Anniversary Building, Hokkaido Toyako Summit International Media Center | |
Natural lighting |
Sapporo Yamaguchi Crematorium, Ishikawa Prefectural Office | |
Well water heat use |
Expo 2005 Aichi Japan, Japan Pavilion Seto; Ishikawa Prefectural Office | |
Snow cooling system |
Sapporo Yamaguchi Crematorium, Hokkaido Toyako Summit International Media Center | |
Night purge ventilation |
Tachikawa City Hall, Waseda Research Park Communication Center | |
Solar heat use |
Tachikawa City Hall | |
Visualization |
Waseda Research Park Communication Center | |
| Project | Award | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
Kawagoe Kita Elementary School, Mie Prefecture |
Eco-Challenge School Program certified project | |
| 10th Public Buildings Association excellence award | Public Buildings Association, Ltd. | |
Sapporo Yamaguchi Crematorium |
23rd Award of Promotion: Technology Promotion Award | The Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan |
| Good lighting Award excellent facilities award | The Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan | |
Friends School 120th Anniversary Building |
Rooftop, Wall Surface, and Special Greening Technology Competition | Organization for Landscape and Urban Green Technology Development |
| Green City Planning Prize, Minato City | Minato City, Tokyo | |
Waseda Research Park Communication Center |
5th Environmental and Equipment Design Award | Association of Building Engineering and Equipment |
| Award of Promotion: Technology Promotion Award | The Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan | |
| JIA Architect of the Year 2005 | The Japan Institute of Architects | |
METI main building aseismic renovation |
FY 2008 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) promotion merit award | 3R Promotion Council |
Tokyo Metropolitan Tsubasa Sogo Senior High School |
FY 2009 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) promotion merit award | 3R Promotion Council |
Ishikawa Prefectural Office |
Award of Technology in Building Mechanical Service System Category | The Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan |
| 11th Public Buildings Association excellence award; Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award | Public Buildings Association, Ltd. | |
| 2003 Superior Fire and Disaster Prevention System Award | Fire and Disaster Management Agency | |
Waseda University Honjo Dormitory Renovation |
Prize in Reform and Renewal Design Idea Contest | Organizing Committee of Architectural Reform & Renewal Exhibition |
Yokohama Rehabilitation Center |
3rd Excellent ESCO project award (Bronze) | The Energy Conservation Center, Japan |
Hokkaido Toyako Summit International Media Center |
JIA Architect of the Year 2009 | The Japan Institute of Architects |
| Good Design Award | Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization | |
| Project | Description | Publication |
|---|---|---|
Expo 2005 Aichi Japan |
Seeking harmony between Japan Pavilion Seto and Satoyama (traditional rural landscape) | Kenchiku Setsubishi (Aug. 2005) |
Ishikawa Prefectural Office |
Environmental equipment in Ishikawa Prefectural Office | Kuki-chowa Eisei-kogaku (Oct. 2005) |
Waseda Research Park |
About the Waseda Research Park Communication Center | Kenchiku Setsubi to Haikan Koji (Nov. 2006) |
Waseda Research Park Communication Center |
Environmental design and building equipment in Waseda Research Park | Kuki-chowa Eisei-kogaku (Sep. 2007) |
Sapporo Yamaguchi Crematorium |
Environmental and equipment planning in Sapporo Yamaguchi Crematorium | Kuki-chowa Eisei-kogaku (July 2009) |
Sapporo Yamaguchi Crematorium |
Snow cooling system in Sapporo Yamaguchi Crematorium | Kenchiku Setsubishi (Feb. 2007) |
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Technology for reducing CO2 by natural energy use | Sekkei Kogaku (Aug. 2009) |
| Title (English equivalent) | Sponsor | Description |
|---|---|---|
Architecture and Equipment in the Age of Environmental Conservation |
New Office Promotion Association | Keynote Address for Nikkei New Office Awards Tohoku Block |
Environmental Design and Building Equipment in Waseda Research Park |
The Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan | Technology Promotion Award acceptance speech |
Architectural Design in Dialog with the Environment |
Nagoya Chamber of Commerce & Industry | Course subject under Aichi University Presidents Association credit transfer system |
Establishing Cooling Tower and Coolant Temperature Control Technology |
The Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan | Overall design and operation for optimization of air-conditioning systems |
Examples of Energy Saving Design |
The Association of Mechanical & Electrical Consulting Engineers of Tokyo | Latest equipment trends toward global warming prevention |
Expectations of Building Equipment Engineers |
Japan Building Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Association | Panel discussion at Association’s 20th anniversary event |
