Works#Social Good

This café features an AI-powered oven, "Baumkuchen AI Craftsman 'THEO'," which bakes and serves Baumkuchen in real time in a show kitchen. Inspired by the theme of "life" from the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo), the café uses "eggs" as its motif. The interior is predominantly white, with rounded chairs and tables, creating a bright space that softly reflects the light streaming in from the windows. Furthermore, the floor, walls, ceiling, and tables are made from recycled eggshells used in Baumkuchen production, expressing a vision of a future confectionery shop that avoids waste and incorporates materials into its architecture. *Opening period: April 13th (Sun) - October 13th (Mon), 2025

This facility is a showroom for the sale of condominiums by Mitsui Fudosan Residential. Located on the first floor of a building in the heart of Sendai, and highly visible from the street, the space was designed with the concept of "EN - a place that connects people to people, the city to people, inside and outside, and relationships," using the image of the "engawa" (veranda) often seen in traditional Japanese houses as inspiration. In the central presentation space, a condominium model and video are used to create an exciting displays will welcome prospective residents. In the surrounding park-like space that connects to the outside, business discussions about "housing" can also be held. Furthermore, in order to promote diversity and inclusion, the company has introduced a para-art subscription service in some of its condominiums in the Sendai area, an initiative aimed at supporting independence and providing opportunities for people to thrive. To let more people know about this initiative, art is displayed in part of the meeting space, and a mini-gallery introducing para-artists has been set up in a space that resembles a condominium balcony and is easily visible from the sidewalk.

We exhibited "Being: The Existence of Furniture" at "DESIGNART TOKYO 2024," Japan's largest concept design and art festival (theme: "Reframing - The Beginning of Transformation -"). "Being: The Existence of Furniture" is a project that reconsiders the relationship between people and objects. In our projects concept design spaces, we create many objects every day, but behind the scenes, we feel a great challenge in that these objects are discarded or left unused even though they are still perfectly usable. When we consider situations where an object is used carefully for a long time, a relationship is often formed in which an attachment to the object sprouts. At such times, we realize that we have gone from a feeling of "owning and using" the object to a feeling of caring for it and "being together" with it. Therefore, we thought that noticing this change in feeling might be one way to solve the problem. The furniture presented in the project is not particularly sturdy or functionally superior. Rather, it has a certain instability and capriciousness, and possesses a nature that makes you want to care for it. If furniture transforms from something that "exists" to something that "is there," how will we interact with it? Through a series of experimental concept design in this project, we pose a question to society about the transformation of value between people and objects. Our company's vision is to "unlock all possibilities of space starting from the 'creativity' of each individual," and we are committed to creating spaces that enrich people's lives. As part of this, we challenge the social issues we face from a creative perspective and continue to exhibit at concept design events both domestically and internationally to create a cycle of communication, exchange, and innovation through 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 that examines the future of Marunouchi Nakadori in Tokyo and explores ways to utilize it. Started in 2019, "Marunouchi Street Park 2024 Winter," now in its ninth year, expanded from the previous three blocks of Marunouchi Nakadori to five blocks, including Gyokodori, making it the largest event to date. Our company participated as the overall planning partner and operations manager. The theme this year was "Bright Street." We were responsible for the spatial design, construction, and operation, utilizing the illuminations that are a winter tradition in Marunouchi. We supported the planning and operation of popular environmentally friendly resin ice rinks, a glasshouse market with a wide variety of goods, and holiday-themed caricature content and street music. (Event period: November 14, 2024 - December 25, 2024)

We exhibited "Towards 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 transforms "SCRAP," which is discarded from building materials and interiors materials, into "FURNITURE," and further reuses it as recycled material, returning it to the earth. We created furniture as practical and sustainable message art that makes interiors waste, which is usually not seen, feel close to us and continues to appeal to our emotions and memories. After that, it is circulated as new interiors material, and we aim for it to be a medium that expands the circle of co-creation and becomes 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.

AKICHIDE PARK, a private park created through the collaboration of the local community, government, and businesses, has opened on a vacant lot in the Nagano shopping district of Kawachinagano City, Osaka Prefecture. Its aim is to restore the former vibrancy of the area and enrich the lives of each and every citizen. As part of our R&D activities, our company endorsed the objectives of this project and joined the "Kawachinagano Station Area Revitalization Conference" as a collaborating company. Leading up to the opening of AKICHIDE PARK, we were proactively involved in a wide range of processes, including planning and basic concept development, spatial design supervision, sponsorship, and event planning and management support. Working together with other collaborating companies, we continue to work on revitalizing the park even after its opening.

As part of vitalization business for the redevelopment of Senri Chuo Park, we renovated the architecture, interiors, and landscape of the former park management office and planned a facility that would be created in collaboration with local residents, reflecting their vision for Senri Chuo Park. Based on the "three O's" (Open, Ordinary, Organic) of the PLAY 100ORE SCENES concept, our company collaborated on the planning, design, layout, construction, and park vitalization business planning and operation for "SEN℃," a cafe where visitors can enjoy the unique experiences of the park; "Park Lawson Senri Store," a mini-shop; and "LABO," a community space. As part of our collaborative efforts with local residents, we held and managed events such as "Find Colors, Create Colors" and "Paint the Entire Building," using colors found within the park to decorate the exterior walls of the LABO building, creating unique value that can only be found here.

With the aim of creating an opportunity to think about a society that lives sustainably in harmony with nature, Mitsui Fudosan and Discover Japan co-hosted an event at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya to learn about and deepen understanding of "wood." This real-world event was themed around "Living with Wood," a special feature in the August 2023 issue of the magazine "Discover Japan." The first-floor atrium was designated as the introduction area, symbolizing the event. For displays of wood carvings, our company aimed to create a space that envelops the wood carvings, based on the concept of "how to interact with wood" as an experience that engages all five senses, surrounded by the scent, sound, and light of wood. Our company was in charge of design, layout, and construction of this space. In addition, a panel exhibition in the underground passage of Tokyo Midtown Hibiya introduced our R&D activity, "Hand-concept design," 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 Co.,Ltd. Ltd. exhibited a booth at "SC Business Fair 2024," the industry's largest event bringing together shopping center stakeholders. Held at Pacifico Yokohama displays Hall for three days from January 24th to 26th, 2024, Nomura Co., Ltd. not only exhibited a booth but also held a free seminar on the first day of the event. The theme of this year's booth was "Sustainable concept design as Envisioned by NOMURA Co.,Ltd." As part of our social good R&D activities, we are developing a "Sustainable concept design Manners Book" that realizes aesthetic appeal, functionality, and environmental friendliness, and the booth was designed in accordance with the basic principles of the Manners Book. While sustainability initiatives are diversifying, we are also continuing to take on various challenges, such as developing upcycled materials. However, this time, we returned to basic materials that are indispensable for constructing spaces and that we will continue to be deeply involved with in the future, and focused on understanding the characteristics of each material. As basic materials, we used wood, cement, acrylic, copper, and iron, arranging the timbers of each material in a grid pattern while creating undulations in the space, allowing visitors to move around the booth and enjoy conversations. The proportion of each material used was calculated based on the embodied carbon emissions throughout the building's lifecycle, and we made efforts to allow visitors to visually perceive the characteristics of each material. Furthermore, by using clamps (*) instead of screws or adhesives for joining, the materials can be reused, and the amount of waste generated during demolition is drastically reduced, symbolically representing the fundamental concept of contributing to the environment. Our aim was concept design a booth where visitors could think together about future approaches to sustainable concept design, and where they could gain new insights and discoveries while demonstrating responsibility and gratitude for materials. *We are using the dedicated clamps from the "Tsunagi" project, planned and produced by Nikken Sekkei.