Works#Fairwood

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 project involved the renewal of Asakusa Station on the Tobu Skytree Line and Tobu Nikko Station on the Tobu Nikko Line, coinciding with the launch of Tobu Railway's new limited express train, the Spacia X. The project's concept was "connecting," aiming to create a sense of continuity in the space from before boarding the Spacia X to after disembarking. Furthermore, the concept of "connecting" encompasses several meanings, including "connecting to a journey to Nikko," "connecting the old and new station concept design," "connecting the history and culture of the areas along the line to the future," and "connecting the skills and thoughts of the creators to the users." As a station concept design that embodies "connecting," the project actively utilized materials from Tochigi Prefecture and incorporated motifs derived from Nikko's nature, history, and culture, aiming to promote "environmental conservation" and "cultural dissemination" of the areas along the line as new initiatives for Tobu Railway. In addition, to convey these efforts, our company was in charge of concept design graphic posters on the theme of "connecting," which were displays inside Asakusa Station and Tobu Nikko Station.

LOGI'Q Minami-Ibaraki, the flagship facility of Tokyu Land Corporation's LOGI'Q brand, was completed in January 2024 as one of the largest logistics facilities in the Kansai region. Our company was responsible for design, layout, construction, and signage concept design. We designed cafeterias on the first and fourth floors, each with a different concept design theme that characterizes the facility. The first floor area, facing a mountainous area, made extensive use of wood and created a spacious area with high ceilings. On the other hand, the fourth floor area, located on the urban and industrial side, was finished with a sharp and modern composition using metal and stone. Furthermore, we concept design an eye-catching large logo outdoors and a lounge located at the main entrance, providing a comfortable experience for visitors to the facility and creating a space that promotes communication through art and displays.

In order to contribute to the promotion of SDGs in Higashiyodogawa Ward, Osaka Prefecture, and to create a space where visitors can feel relaxed and comfortable, Higashiyodogawa Ward Office has renovated the waiting areas on the first and second floors with wood. The renovation concept is "Treeful." This is a coined word that means "full" with trees (tree), and conveys the message that just as a wide variety of trees gather together to create a rich, strong, and sustainable mountain, the diversity of the people living in this city creates a rich society. By incorporating a wealth of wood from Osaka Prefecture into areas of Higashiyodogawa Ward Office that are visible to many users, and with the cooperation of ward residents through workshops, a space filled with the diverse charms of wood, "Treeful," was born. *This project was implemented using the "Forest Environment Grant Tax."

Building 15 at Sophia University's Yotsuya Campus opened in the fall of 2022 as a hub for adult education and community exchange, with the keyword "Transforming the city into a forest," aiming to contribute to achieving the SDGs and realizing a decarbonized society, as well as becoming a sustainable landmark for the region. Designed and construction by Sumitomo Forestry, this three-story fire-resistant wooden building utilizes "Kigurumi FR®," an original pure wood fire-resistant laminated timber made from Tama-grown cedar, for its main structural components. The facade, covered with a cross-shaped wooden lattice, is concept design that expresses the founding principles of Sophia University: "diversity," "interaction with others," "truth," and "tradition." The first floor will house a café open to the public, and as part of community contribution activities, space will be provided to nearby neighborhood associations for use as a disaster prevention warehouse. The second and third floors are used as classrooms for the "Professional Studies" course for working adults. Our company was responsible for design, layout, construction of the third floor, which is used as a classroom for the adult education course. Aiming to create a space that fosters wisdom through gathering, learning, and conversation, we also connected the story from the architecture to the materials that make up the space, and concept design using Nishikawa timber (cedar and cypress) from Hannō, which, along with Tama timber, has been used to build the city of Edo.

BLUE NOTE PLACE is a new type of restaurant that harmonizes with the Ebisu neighborhood, a place where people with diverse values and lifestyles gather, by fusing food, music, and culture. It proposes a style of casually enjoying high-quality live music and DJ sets along with meals. The interior luxuriously utilizes a two-story atrium space and is equipped with spaces to accommodate various occasions, including a dining area, bar, lounge, private rooms, and a terrace. While primarily operating as a dining bar, it offers a seamless integration of food and music, allowing customers to enjoy live music and DJ sets more casually with a table charge. Our company was in charge of design, layout.

This is a community revitalization and disaster prevention base that was born in Koshimizu Town, Hokkaido, and is a community revitalization and disaster prevention base that has been working in partnership with the public and public, with the aim of creating a lively and sustainable town by creating a place for people to live both in everyday life and in times of disaster. In addition to the town hall functions, the town hall will be equipped with a cafe, laundry, fitness gym, community space, etc., transforming the town hall from a traditional "place you don't go to unless you have something to do" to a new "place you come to naturally." We aim to become a central facility where the town hall and residents can work together to revitalize the town while facing the challenges of depopulation and aging.

We were commissioned by Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. to propose and develop new office interiors material product ideas for its group company, MEC Industry. From among many ideas, we focused on developing partitions and raised access flooring for sale as wooden products. At the "Non-Residential Wooden Building Fair 2023" held in May 2023, we collaborated with Mitsubishi Estate and other booth personnel to consider design, layout for installation in the Mitsubishi Estate Group booth, where mockups created during the development process were displays. Following the fair, feedback was exchanged among stakeholders, and the mockups were refined from concept design, construction, and procurement perspectives in preparation for actual sales, leading to Head Office installation at Mitsubishi Estate's headquarters. NOMURA Co.,Ltd. also cooperated in the design and construction of the installation.

Nishio Rentall, a comprehensive rental company focusing on construction machinery and event materials, has opened a research and development facility in Osaka to carry out technology development and demonstration experiments to advance sharing solutions in preparation for the Osaka/Kansai Expo to be held in 2025. It was built on the island. In the area of Building A-1, which we were in charge of, there is a pedestrian deck connecting the nearest station, Cosmo Square Station, and the Osaka Prefectural Sakishima Government Building, which is open to anyone including nearby residents other than employees. I was in charge of the shared space space and lobby that serves as the facility's reception desk.

To provide guests with the hotel's concept of "experiencing Hokkaido," we planned the ultimate locally sourced hotel with sustainability in mind, while cherishing the culture and way of thinking that has been valued in this region. In the exterior, interiors, and structure, we not only used Hokkaido-produced wood, stone, and soil as building materials, but also aimed to use materials to the fullest extent by making furniture from leftover building materials. Furthermore, some of the furniture in the hotel lounge was made in Asahikawa, a town famous for its furniture, using Hokkaido-produced wood, and the regularly held market events are held in cooperation with local producers, creating connections between the hotel and the community in various ways, both in terms of soft and hard aspects. In the restaurant, we not only use Hokkaido-produced ingredients (agricultural products, seafood, dairy products, etc.), but also ingredients from producers whose faces we can see, and in the guest rooms, we have installed wooden speakers and record players in honor of Sapporo, the city of jazz, and have set up art with beautiful photographs of various parts of Hokkaido by five photographers, we have incorporated elements that allow guests to deeply experience Hokkaido through all five senses. Whether your destination is Sapporo or you're using it as a starting point, this hotel offers a unique and unforgettable experience in Sapporo, the gateway to Hokkaido.

We were in charge of the planning, concept design, and construction of the entrance renovation for Head Office (main building) of Oji Holdings Corporation. The concept was "Forest Field." To express the company's commitment to working in harmony with forest resources in the entrance, we aimed to create a realistic space where one can feel the healing power of a forest even while in an office building in the heart of the city, by effectively arranging native trees and wooden furnishings. The wooden furnishings were made from coniferous trees such as fir and larch, and hardwoods such as oak and birch, harvested from the company's own forests. We made extensive use of solid wood to create a beautiful and warm space that is unique to wood.

Located on the first floor of the main building at the Kawasaki Plant, this facility combines Fujitsu Sports with a flexible communication space. Based on the concept of "a place where everyone with diverse values can gather on an equal footing and move forward positively towards their dreams," displays corner, featuring items related to various sports teams and athletes, as well as items that deepen understanding of parasports, is designed to be easily accessible for wheelchair users. Some of the display stands and benches use precious wood carefully cultivated at a children's independence support facility in Engaru Town, Hokkaido, which has strong ties to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. An event space is also included, ensuring a space that can accommodate various workshops and events. [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] We received a request to incorporate Fujitsu's new work style reform concept, "Work Life Shift," which focuses on the well-being of each individual and aims for autonomous work. [Solution] We proposed a cheerleading-led flexibility exercise class using the event space, providing an opportunity to improve employee well-being during lunchtime. [Customer Feedback] We were able to effectively convey the philosophy of the corporate sports room through the spatial design. It also serves as an effective communication platform and has been very well received. <Our Project Members> [Sales & Project Management] Yuya Ono [Planning, design, layout] Kei Tamura, Akane Yamaguchi, Junichi Ito [Signage & Graphic concept design] Akane Yamaguchi, Junichi Ito [Production & construction] Toshiaki Hatada

This project involved the revitalization of a samurai residence, over 140 years old, located in the castle town of Obi Castle in Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, into a tourist hub and hot spring inn. Each of the five guest rooms is concept design with a theme reflecting the local area, incorporating the town's color "purple," "cedar" which supports the industry, "tea trees" which are used in hedges as part of the local culture, "bitter orange" which is the city's citrus fruit, and "moss," which is important to the town's landscape. This project utilized subsidies from the "Shopping Street Revitalization and Tourism Consumption Creation Project," and our company participated extensively in the project, from hardware to software, including creating cards and maps to encourage exploration of the area in collaboration with local shops, developing cooking experiences, and installing lanterns as streetlights starting from the inn. The inn has been successfully revitalized and is poised to become a central element in future town development.

"EXPRESS WORK" is a new workspace for JR Central's EX service ("Express Reservation" and "Smart EX") members*1. Located in the Marunouchi Central Building, it consists of two sections: the drop-in type "EXPRESS WORK-Lounge" and the small-scale rental office "EXPRESS WORK-Office". Our company was involved from the concept formulation stage and was in charge of project management, spatial concept design, and construction. "EXPRESS WORK-Lounge" and "EXPRESS WORK-Office" are located in an extremely convenient location directly connected to Tokyo Station, making them particularly convenient for business users who use the Shinkansen. The space is a socially responsible space that takes into account JR Central's efforts in global environmental conservation and regional revitalization. interiors features upcycled aluminum from the Tokaido Shinkansen 700 series trains (hereinafter referred to as recycled aluminum)*2, and wood from the Fuji Hinoki brand "FUJI HINOKI MADE" provided by Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, along the Tokaido Shinkansen line. The subtle scent of cypress creates a relaxing space for business users. *1 How to use "EXPRESS WORK-Lounge": In addition to being an EX service member, you must also register as an "EXPRESS WORK" member. *2 Upcycling: This refers to transforming waste that would otherwise be discarded into a new product by adding new value such as concept design and ideas. (Source: IDEAS FOR GOOD)

The former Suzuki Residence, a large estate in the Toi district of Nishi-Izu consisting of a main house and three storehouses, has been a beloved central presence in the community since the Edo period. With the "value of experiencing antique beauty" in mind, the buildings and exterior have been renovated to create an auberge with two guest rooms. The main house's cramped layout has been revised to create a sense of spaciousness in all directions, ensuring modern comfort. The three storehouses were designed to preserve the atmosphere of the past by utilizing the unique spatial characteristics of each and adding minimal concept design elements. Two of the storehouses were renovated into guest rooms with luxurious outdoor open-air baths, and one was converted into a lounge and spa. The result is an auberge that blends seamlessly with the surrounding accommodations and is loved by the community. [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] While Toi has long been a popular hot spring inn town, the lack of variety in restaurants, cafes that serve as tourist hubs, and tourist content that utilizes the food resources of Nishi-Izu has resulted in low tourist spending, which has been a long-standing issue. The client's request for this facility development was not to prioritize business profitability, but rather to create a facility that would benefit the community and be accepted and loved by both tourists and local residents. [Solution] Our company respected the passage of time the buildings had accumulated on this land, and we believed that it was necessary to find the unique character of each building and transform it into an attractive concept design. We revised the floor plan while considering the structural burden of the existing non-conforming buildings, and by respecting the character of each building, we were able to create the charm of each facility itself. For example, the main house has a deep roof structure, the first storehouse, which has been converted into a lounge, has roughly painted plaster walls, the second storehouse, which is a lodging building, has a dynamic one-room space, and the third storehouse has a two-story vertical expansion and earthen walls hidden behind the wooden walls. [Client's Voice] Despite the short deadline, the former Suzuki residence, which represents the history of Toi, was restored with extremely high-quality concept design and construction techniques. As a result, not only tourists who come to "LOQUAT Nishi-Izu," but also local residents visit almost every day, and it has become a place of relaxation that provides a little bit of richness in their daily lives. Every day, not only the accommodation buildings but also the restaurants, bakeries, and gelaterias are bustling with activity, often fully booked or sold out. <Our Project Members> [Sales & Project Management] Shinya Hiratsuka, Nobuyuki Yagi [Planning] Saki Ninomiya [design, layout] Norio Koito, Hirofumi Inoue, Tadahiro Nakajima, Ryotaro Tezuka [Production & construction] Jun Endo, Takayuki Inoue, Nohara Kikuchi