Works#Kansai

As the host country of the 2025 World Exposition, Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo), which will be held under the theme of "concept design a Future Society for Life," this pavilion, based on the theme "Between Life and Life," seamlessly connects displays and architecture, allowing visitors to experience the significance of "circulation." The Japan Pavilion, with its circular structure embodying the relay of life, exudes a unique presence as a pavilion of a host country. While the flow of visitors is naturally drawn into the pavilion as they walk around it, its most distinctive feature is the countless wooden planks arranged in a circular pattern. The gaps between these planks allow visitors to glimpse the interior, and the continuity between inside and outside, displays and architecture, encourages visitors to become aware of the "in-between" aspect of the pavilion's theme. Another unique feature of this pavilion is the concept of a "Japan Pavilion that eats garbage." Microorganisms will decompose waste generated within the Expo site and convert it into energy and water. This "living pavilion" allows visitors to relive this process through an installation* and experience how the energy and water generated power the Japan Pavilion. By circulating the three-zone pavilion, visitors can sense the significance of "circulation," a Japanese aesthetic, and truly feel part of this long and magnificent story. Additionally, by using primarily cross-laminated timber (CLT) as "wooden boards" and steel for the structure, the pavilion uses CLT in as simple and symbolic a way as possible. The CLT used in the Japan Pavilion is planned for reuse by companies and local governments across Japan after the Expo ends, and has been designed for easy dismantling and repurposing. By understanding the value of "circulation," which underlies the Japan Pavilion's theme, "Between Life and Life," we aim to encourage visitors to reexamine the circulation that surrounds us and explore the future of society and hints for a sustainable future. Our company is responsible for displays concept design (schematic design, working drawings), construction, and operation of the Japan Pavilion. *A contemporary art form in which the entire displays space is experienced as a work of art. The audience walks around the space and enjoys the work through sights, sounds, and more.

This pavilion for the Osaka-Kansai Expo uses realistic materials to express the rich stories of Qatar's people, land, and sea. The space is composed of real sand that recreates the desert landscape with delicate gradations, aluminum that resembles the deep sea covering the floor, walls, and ceiling, and a giant curtain with intricate embroidery that symbolizes the country's cultural richness. We designed an experiential displays space in which Qatar's traditional crafts and landscapes emerge in a fantastical way amid materials that directly appeal to the visitor's sensibilities.

Located at the gateway to the "Umekita Phase 2 Area," Umekita Green Place is a commercial complex themed around "greenery" and "a place for encounters and interaction." We proposed creating a facility with 20 stores, primarily restaurants and cafes, that would create a lush green plaza and a lively, relaxing space where visitors can wander around and enjoy themselves, catering to the needs of people passing through the JR Osaka Station area for a variety of purposes, from nearby office workers to people visiting the park or shopping. We were responsible for the planning, design and construction of the food court on the second floor and the restrooms on the second and third floors, as well as furniture and fixture manufacturing of the entire facility.

We were responsible for design, layout, sign and graphic concept design, interior administration, furniture and fixture manufacturing, environmental features, and construction of the restaurant "Lounge & Dining" at the 2025 World Exposition, Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo). This facility is concept design to be a "place of hospitality" welcoming guests from Japan and abroad, and combines high-quality spatial presentation with comfort. We aimed to create a space that would create a memorable and special experience for people gathering from all over the world.

Lawson's new store, opening within the 2025 World Expo, Japan site, is located in front of the East Gate entrance, which is directly connected to Yumeshima Station (Osaka Metro Chuo Line), the closest station to the site. The store features noren art representing each of the 47 prefectures and wall art inspired by Lawson's vision of a "Happy Lawson Town"—a symbiotic society created by the connections between Lawson's nationwide network and each local community. The store also incorporates many sustainable building materials, such as wood and single-wall pipes, in anticipation of future use after the Expo ends. Furthermore, the store's unique concept design incorporates Lawson's roots, which began in 1975, such as the logo and milk cans of the first store, conveying its unique identity and communicating its essential value as a "community hot station" that lives alongside the community, from the past to the future.

In preparation for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, renovation work has been underway on the Kansai International Airport Terminal 1 building since 2021. As the gateway to Kansai, this project aims to "expand international flight capacity," "enhance the airside area," and "improve passenger experience." Until now, the airport had lounges for each airline, but these have been consolidated into one, providing a larger space through space efficiency. Among these, this project corresponds to Phase 3 of the large-scale renovation, and is an international business lounge with a total area of 2,970 m2 and 658 seats, with the theme of "ancient capitals and cities." The building is divided into two areas with different concepts, "North Side" and "South Side. schematic design was done by Azusa Sekkei, and our company was in charge of interiors (FF&E), working drawings and construction of the facilities, and art supervision.

We have planned a Mie Prefecture booth to be exhibited in the Kansai Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo, Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo). The Mie Prefecture booth is based on the theme of "The Origin of the Japanese Spirit" and has been designed as a space where visitors can experience the charms of the "beautiful country of Mie," including its rich nature, history, diverse culture, and food. It is an experiential booth that allows visitors to experience Mie with all five senses through valuable displays and content that can only be found at the Expo.

The Malaysian Pavilion, exhibited at the 2025 World Expo in Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo), is a space that comprehensively expresses the tradition, diversity, and advanced nature of the multi-ethnic nation of Malaysia, with the theme of "INTERWOVEN - Weaving a Harmonious Future." At the center of the pavilion is the symbolic "Tree of Harmony," about 10 meters tall, whose leaves are hand-woven by artisans from all over Malaysia using sustainable natural materials, and whose trunk is an organic structure made by weaving fast-growing bamboo in a spiral shape. The morphological language of this design is also deployed in displays floor, lighting, and graphics, symbolizing the network that weaves the entire pavilion. As a pavilion where diversity intersects to weave one big story, it has become a place that embodies hope for a harmonious future.

The venerable RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka, which has a history of 90 years since its founding and has been loved by many guests, including state guests and the Imperial family, as the "Guest House of Osaka," has introduced the "Vignette Collection," one of the brands of IHG Hotels & Resorts, and has made its grand opening as the "RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka Vignette Collection" in preparation for the opening of the Osaka-Kansai Expo in April 2025. The hotel has been renovated into a space that will be loved for generations to come, inheriting the hotel's history and identity and incorporating the charm of the beautiful surrounding scenery unique to the city of water. In this renovation, we were responsible for concept design of the entrance, reception, public areas, guest rooms, banquet halls, and gym, as well as working drawings and construction of the guest room area, art, and FF&E.

We proposed focusing on the lives and dreams of the people who played an active role at Himeji Castle, allowing visitors to experience the value of the buildings and objects through displays appropriate to the location, such as the main keep armory, the connecting tower, and the decorative tower, and connecting this to a moving experience. Specifically, to convey the appeal of these things, we helped to create scenes of the lives and dreams of the people who played an active role at Himeji Castle, focusing on scene displays and experiential displays that recreate the conditions of the time.

FOXEY is a one-of-a-kind made-in-Japan brand that has consistently created products based on the concept of "clothes that accentuate the beauty of women" since its founding in 1980. The "FOXEY ADEAM KITTE Osaka Store" opened at KITTE Osaka, a new landmark in Osaka, and was the first street-front store in the Osaka area, for which we were in charge of interiors construction work.

Sorappa, which opened in Gran Green Osaka, is a lounge exclusively for workers, consisting of a dining area, a café that doubles as a workspace, and a terrace. The dining area is an open space with a 7m-high window that overlooks the Umekita Park, making it suitable for groups to use without worrying about others around them. The open space extends from the café to the terrace, and on sunny days you can enjoy a relaxing cafe time while looking at the beautiful view.

The Panasonic Group Pavilion "Nomo no Kuni" is a pavilion based on the concept of "Unlock your nature" that draws out the potential of children through sensory analysis technology and experiences that stimulate the five senses. Utilizing the latest technology from Panasonic Holdings, we have achieved a spatial design that harmonizes with the worldview of "Nomo no Kuni" by using tiles that evoke the tactile sensation of walking on natural ground, natural wood finishes with metallic textures, and concept design techniques that combine with 3D printing. We adopted a spatial and experience concept design approach centered on what we can do for the future of children, incorporating cutting-edge design and construction methods in sustainability, such as reusable tiles and biodegradable concept design printing.

We designed and concept design the entire house, from design administration concept design the interior design and exterior concept design. The site overlooks the Sea of Japan, and the area is known as a scenic spot with a dynamic topography called "cave". On the other hand, if you look at the surrounding area, you will see that the labyrinth-like intricate alleys create a unique streetscape. This is a feature unique to this area, with a square-shaped structure with cranked intersections to prevent the north wind from blowing through. By incorporating this unique alley structure into the ground floor plan, the architectural volume is segmented and harmonizes with the surrounding environment. The exterior and entrance hall are structured like a topography based on the motif of the ria coast, and the continuity with the streetscape is ensured by setting back from the south side. On the other hand, the north façade is raised one step higher than the surrounding area, and has a three-dimensional square-shaped structure intended to prevent the north wind from blowing through to the city. For the exterior finish, in order to echo the external characteristics of the ria coastline, with its rocky surface at the bottom and lush trees at the top, we used rock-like concrete with exposed aggregates for the lower layer, and wood-grain concrete with cedar board formwork for the upper layer. Both the aggregates that appear on the surface and the cedar board formwork materials are made from materials that can be collected in the area, and we hope that the unique expressions of the materials will weave the unique scenery of the location into the future. In addition, by applying this two-tiered structure to the finishes of the interior spaces as well, it creates a sense of unity with the architecture, contributing to fostering a sense of unity between the inside and outside.

Thirty years have passed since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and as the number of generations who have not experienced the disaster increases, we have renovated the Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park, which was built in 1997 immediately after the disaster. By displays the remains preserved as they were at the time of the earthquake in contrast to the reconstructed city of Kobe, we symbolically convey the horror of the earthquake and the strength of the people of Kobe who reconstructed the city. In renovating displays displays, we reconstructed the content so that it is easy to understand for the younger generation who did not experience the earthquake, and we also translated displays graphics and videos into multiple languages for the increasing number of foreign tourists in recent years. As a new displays element, we also created AR content that allows you to compare the state of the remains before, during, and after the earthquake. We renovated the park with the aim of attracting many people from Japan and abroad, regardless of age, and continuing to be a place that passes on the memories and lessons of the earthquake to the future.