Works#Social Good

This facility is a showroom for condominium sales by Mitsui Fudosan Residential. It is located on the first floor of a building in the center of Sendai city, and taking advantage of its location that is easily visible from outside, the space was designed with the concept of "EN - A place that connects people with people, town with people, inside with outside, and connections" in mind, and was designed with the image of a "veranda" commonly seen in Japanese houses. In the presentation space in the center, a condominium model and video are used to welcome residents with an exciting displays. In the surrounding park-like space that connects to the outside, business negotiations about "living" can also be conducted. In order to promote diversity and inclusion, the company has introduced a paraart subscription service to some of the condominiums in the Sendai area, and is working to provide opportunities for people to support independence and thrive. In order to let many people know about this initiative, art is displayed in part of the meeting space, and a mini gallery introducing paraartists is also set up in a space that resembles a condominium balcony that can be seen immediately from the sidewalk.

We exhibited "Being Furniture" at DESIGNART TOKYO 2024, Japan's largest concept design and art festival (with the theme "Reframing - The Beginning of Transformation"). "Being Furniture" is a project that reconsiders the relationship between people and objects. We create many things every day in our spatial concept design projects, but behind the scenes, we feel that there is a big issue with these things being discarded or no longer used while still fully usable. When we think about a situation in which an object is used for a long time and with great care, it is often the case that a relationship is formed that gives rise to an attachment to the object. In such cases, we noticed that we have gone from a sense of "owning and using" to a sense of "being with" the object and caring about it. Therefore, we thought that noticing this change in sensation might be one way to solve the problem. The furniture presented in the project is not particularly sturdy or functional. Rather, it has a certain instability and whimsy that makes us want to care for it. If furniture changes from "being" to "being there," how will we interact with it? Through a series of experimental concept design in this project, we ask society about the transformation in value between people and objects. Our company's vision is to "open up all kinds of spatial possibilities starting from the 'creativity' of each individual," and we are working to create spaces that enrich people's hearts. As part of this, we continue to exhibit at concept design events both in Japan and overseas in order to take on the social issues we face from a creative perspective and create a cycle of communication, exchange, and innovation through our output.

This is a trial project towards "creating an inclusive stadium where everyone can enjoy themselves." For the first time, "Sensor-Friendly Tickets" will be sold at the professional baseball Eastern League official game to be held on Sunday, September 22, 2024, with the cooperation of the organizers, The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nippon Television, and Tokyo Dome.

The pediatric department entrance on the first floor and the treatment room on the fifth floor of the Maternal and Child Medical Center at the Jikei University Hospital were renovated to create a space that would make the hospital more appealing and familiar to children and their guardians. This project was initiated by Professor Kimihiko Oishi, medical director and head of the Pediatrics Department at the Jikei University Hospital, who, based on his experience working in the medical field in the United States, felt that the current space in the hospital was new and beautiful, but was it a comfortable place for children? What about their families? And what about the staff who work there? Sega Sammy Holdings agreed with the desire of Professor Oishi and the pediatric ward staff to "enrich the lives of children in the hospital," and decided to support the Jikei University Hospital through content and Sega characters.

"Marunouchi Street Park" is a social experiment project to examine the future form and utilization of Nakadori Street in Marunouchi, Tokyo. The ninth "Marunouchi Street Park 2024 Winter" was held in 2019, and expanded from the previous three blocks of Nakadori Street to five blocks including Gyoko-dori Street, making it the largest scale event to date. Our company participated as a general planning partner and in charge of operations. The theme of this event was "Bright Street." We were in charge of the spatial design, construction, and operation that made use of the illuminations, a seasonal feature of Marunouchi in winter. We supported the planning and operation of the environmentally friendly resin skating rink, which is popular every year, the Glass House Market with its wide range of products, portrait content and street music perfect for the holiday season, and more. (Event period: November 14th to December 25th, 2024)

We exhibited "To Our Future - SCRAP MATERIAL UPCYCLE PROJECT - SCRAPTURE" at DESIGNART TOKYO 2023, one of Japan's largest concept design and art festivals. "SCRAPTURE" is an upcycling project that turns "SCRAP" generated from building materials and interiors materials into "FURNITURE", and reuses it as recycled materials to give back to the earth. We created furniture as practical and sustainable message art that brings interiors waste, which is usually not seen, closer to people and continues to appeal to emotions and memories. We aim to recycle it as new interiors materials and to serve as a medium to expand the circle of co-creation, and to be an opportunity to think about a better future.

This is a renovation project for the hotel "The Mana Village" located at the tip of Cape Ashizuri in Kochi Prefecture. The project began in 2020 to transform the former Ashizuri Pacific Hotel into one of Asia's leading resort hotels, "The Mana Village." In this project, we added value to two new types of guest rooms, the common areas, and the infinity deck. The new guest rooms consist of seven Japanese-style rooms and a concept room designed by young hotel staff and our designers, with the aim of providing a "new way to enjoy the ocean like art" while also promoting the charm of Kochi and connecting Kochi with our guests. This is an ongoing project in which we will share the hotel's transformation with our guests over time, building up their expectations.

"Marunouchi Street Park" is a project that is being carried out as a demonstration experiment of future area management, transforming "road space" into a comfortable "urban park space" in Nakadori, Marunouchi, Tokyo. The winter 2023 event will continue from the summer and examine the state of urban parks in preparation for permanent establishment, while highlighting the illuminations, a winter feature of the Marunouchi area, and providing various content perfect for the holiday season, such as photo spots for visitors to enjoy, a merry-go-round, an ice rink, and a Glass House Market with a wide selection of food and beverages. This time, the concept is "Bright Street - Nakadori in winter, where the city and everyone shines -" and we have taken measures that are in line with the SDGs and trends of the times, such as reusing each market booth used in winter 2022 and remaking the swing-shaped bench that was popular during the summer 2023 event into a photo spot with new decorations. In addition, we have worked to create content that makes use of our past know-how, such as upgrading the "Detour Bench" created in summer 2023 to a bench where you can relax while looking up at the illuminations. In addition, while the official musicians performing on the streets will continue as in the summer, we have also taken on new initiatives in terms of planning, such as inviting a portrait artist this time. In addition, as a continuation of the "Illumination Tour for the Blind" held in the winter of 2021, we held a dialogue tour in which able-bodied people walked blindfolded to deepen their understanding of the visually impaired, creating an opportunity to discuss how to make the streets more comfortable for everyone.

A private park called "AKICHIDE PARK" was opened on a vacant lot in Nagano Shopping Street, Kawachinagano City, Osaka Prefecture, in cooperation with the local community, government and companies, with the aim of restoring the area's former bustle and enriching the lives of each and every citizen. As part of our R&D activities, we agreed with the purpose of this project and participated in the Kawachinagano Station Front Regeneration Conference as a partner company. In preparation for the opening of AKICHIDE PARK, we were actively involved in a wide range of processes, including planning and basic concept, spatial design supervision, sponsorship, and event planning and management cooperation, while also working with other partner companies to revitalize the park even after it opened.

As part of vitalization business for the redevelopment of Senri Central Park, we renovated the architecture, interiors, and landscape of the former park management office, and planned a facility that would be thought up and created together with local residents about Senri Central Park. Based on the concept of PLAY 1OOORE SCENES' "three O's" (Open, Ordinary, Organic), our company is involved in the design, layout, construction, and operation of the park vitalization business project "SEN℃," a cafe where visitors can enjoy the unique experience of the park, the mini-shop "PARK LAWSON Senri Store," and the community space "LABO." As part of our efforts with local residents, we held and operated events such as "Find a Color, Make a Color" and "Paint the Whole Building," where we colored the exterior walls of the lab building with colors found in the park, creating value that can only be found here.

The event was held at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, sponsored by Mitsui Fudosan and Discover Japan, with the aim of creating an opportunity to think about a society that can live sustainably with greenery. It was a real event based on the theme of "Living with Wood," a special feature in the magazine "Discover Japan" published in August 2023. The atrium on the first floor was used as an introduction area to symbolize this event. In order to create a space that envelops the woodcarvings, we adopted the concept of "how to interact with wood," which is experienced with the five senses while being surrounded by the scent, sound, and light of wood. We were in displays of the design, layout, and construction of this spatial production. In addition, a panel exhibition in the underground passage of Tokyo Midtown Hibiya introduced our R&D activities, "concept design by Thinking with Hands" and displays actual prototypes.

This exhibition was made possible by the signing of a comprehensive partnership agreement between Special Olympics Nippon and Chukyo University in May 2022. Located in the space of Chukyo University Sports Museum, which pursues the diverse values of physical culture, this special exhibition allows visitors to experience and learn about the appeal of Special Olympics, including the history and characteristics of Special Olympics activities and domestic initiatives. In addition to sports exclusively for people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics also promotes Unified Sports® in line with the global trend of promoting a "co-existence society" and "social inclusion." It is hoped that this exhibition will lead to the "realization of a society in which diverse people can live."

"Marunouchi Street Park" has been running in Tokyo's Marunouchi Nakadori since 2019 as a demonstration experiment of future area management that transforms "road space" into a comfortable "urban park space." Based on the concept of "Popping Summer Street - Marunouchi Nakadori where visitors can feel the summer and get excited," verification items included collaboration with initiatives that are in line with the times and trends, such as rugby and SDGs, setting up tables equipped with wind and solar power generation capabilities, and creating a venue for musical performances that involves local workers and visitors.

NOMURA exhibited a booth at the SC Business Fair 2024, the largest event in the industry where shopping center personnel gather together. The event was held at the Pacifico Yokohama displays Hall for three days from January 24 to 26, 2024, and in addition to exhibiting at a booth, we also held a free seminar on the first day of the event. The theme of this booth was "NOMURA 's Idea of Sustainable concept design." As part of our social good R&D activities, we are currently working on creating a "Sustainable concept design Manner Book" that realizes design, functionality, and environmental friendliness, and our booth was designed in accordance with the basic principles of the manner book. As sustainability efforts become more diverse, we are also continuing to take on various challenges, such as developing upcycled materials. However, this time, we have focused on understanding the characteristics of basic materials, which are indispensable materials for constructing spaces and will continue to be deeply involved in the future. The basic materials used were wood, cement, acrylic, copper, and iron. The square timbers were arranged in a grid pattern, but the space was given an undulation, allowing visitors to walk around and enjoy conversation. The ratio of the number of pieces of each material used was calculated based on the embodied carbon emissions over the life cycle of the building, and the characteristics of the materials were visually conveyed. In addition, the design symbolizes the idea of essential environmental contribution, as the secondary use of materials is possible and waste at the time of demolition is drastically reduced by using clamps (※) instead of screws or adhesives for connection. We aimed to concept design a booth that would allow visitors to think about future approaches to sustainable concept design together with us, and that would allow visitors to gain new realizations and discoveries while showing their responsibility and gratitude for materials. *We have used the dedicated clamps from the "Tsunagi" project, planned and produced by Nikken Sekkei.

Building 15 of Sophia University's Yotsuya Campus is based on the theme of "turning the city into a forest," and aims to contribute to achieving the SDGs and realizing a carbon-free society, as well as to become a sustainable landmark for the region. It opened in the fall of 2022 as a base for adult education and community interaction. The three-story wooden building was designed and construction by Sumitomo Forestry, and is a fire-resistant structure. The main structural parts are made of "Kigurumi FR®," an original pure wood fire-resistant laminated lumber made from cedar from Tama. The facade, which is covered with crisscrossing wooden lattices, is concept design to express "diversity," "interaction with others," "truth," and "tradition," which are linked to Sophia University's founding principles. The first floor will operate a cafe that is open to the public, and as part of community contribution activities, the space will be provided to nearby neighborhood associations as a disaster prevention warehouse. The second and third floors are also used as classrooms for the "Professional Studies" course for working adults. We were responsible for design, layout, and construction of the third floor, which is used as a classroom for working adults. We aimed to create a space that would be a place to gather, learn from each other, and talk, and to foster concept design. We also linked the story of the architecture to the materials that make up the space, using Nishikawa timber (cedar and cypress) from Hanno, which, together with materials from Tama, helped build the city of Edo.