Works#Tohoku

This project involved renovating our facility, which housed a space museum and planetarium displays JAXA-donated items, due to its aging infrastructure, to create a facility where children can experience the "City of Space." The first floor, formerly a natural science museum, was remodeled into the "Nobishiro Space Lab," unifying the entire facility with a space theme. Our company was responsible for everything from design, layout of displays spaces to exhibit execution, construction of the interactive exhibits.

This project involves the rebuilding of the new office building for Usufuku Honten, a company that was damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake. Usufuku Honten is a fishing company with a history of over 130 years, founded in 1882. With the philosophy of "living in harmony with the sea," they operate in deep-sea tuna fishing and tuna longline fishing, playing a role in the reconstruction of Kesennuma and Tohoku. For the exterior concept design, they have reproduced the copper plates used on the exterior walls of the old main building, which were washed away by the tsunami, and created a new copper scale wall. Over time, the copper plates will change in texture and color to resemble those of the old main building. In addition, elements of tuna fishing boats have been extracted and incorporated into the architecture, such as curved windows and railings. Our company's concept design responsibilities included the exterior concept design, the first-floor entrance, the second-floor office, and the president's office and reception room on the third floor.

This is Japan's first permanent museum dedicated to infectious diseases. With the theme of "Connecting the Past and Present of Infectious Diseases to the Future," it is a facility that conveys the knowledge and experience that humanity has built up from the past to the present, and the steps we are taking towards the future. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light memories of humanity's past struggles against infectious diseases, and it is anticipated that infectious diseases will continue to be a threat to us. In this context, the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum of Infectious Diseases aims to provide a place where people can acquire "correct knowledge and correct actions" regarding infectious diseases. By renovating an existing facility, an annex of the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum, and leveraging the achievements of the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Foundation and the high level of expertise of the supervisors, the museum, which differentiates itself from the memorial museum, consists of two displays rooms. Our company consistently handled everything from architectural renovation to displays design and construction, signage, content, and leaflet concept design.

The Fukushima City Creative Business Salon Development Project was a public proposal competition held in July 2021, and our Tokyo Head Office was awarded the contract, with the Tohoku Branch taking over the design. The project involved renovating the permanent displays room of the Fukushima City Industrial Exchange Plaza on the second floor of Corasse Fukushima, a complex facility adjacent to JR Fukushima Station West Exit, to create a new business exchange hub with coworking spaces and shared offices, aiming to renovate the facility into a comfortable space for business people, freelancers, and university students. The area covers approximately 755 square meters. Fukushima is particularly known for its vibrant photography scene, and a gallery displays the rich natural beauty and seasonal landscapes of the area, as well as cultural and artistic works reflecting the rich sensibilities of Fukushima residents, was installed on the wall of the coworking space. concept design concept for the salon is the "Four Seasons Gallery," combining Fukushima's seasonal events with the rich sense of color of its people. It is a gallery created together with the citizens of Fukushima, designed to provide a more relaxing space for viewing art. [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] While a spacious layout was required in light of the post-COVID era, there was also a need for zoning that considered profitability and securing sufficient seating. The shared office, business networking space, coworking space, and meeting rooms each required different environmental tastes for the floor, walls, and ceilings, as well as a layout and furniture selection that would suit the needs of various users, such as business people, freelancers, and university students, to ensure the facility could be used comfortably by everyone. [Solution] As a creative space for generating new businesses, we leveraged the large area of the facility and developed the entire space into two zones with different images. The business networking space is an active, bright, natural, and comfortable cafe-like zone, with white as the base color for the walls and floor of the corporate PR displays, creating an environment that evokes the warmth of wood, and furnished with easily movable furniture to suit various uses such as seminars and networking events. The coworking space is a calm lounge zone, with gray as the base color, and a contrasting environment created by using dark brown and dark-colored wood on niche walls, and furnished with furniture that suits the diverse needs of individuals, such as comfortable sofas, large tables, and counter seats for focused work. Furthermore, to foster connections with the local community and build a stronger sense of community, we aimed to enhance the functionality of the corporate PR displays displays and add the "Shikisai Gallery," which will be created in collaboration with the citizens of Fukushima, thereby aiming to create new connections between the people who use the facility and the city. <Our Project Members> [Development] Akihiko Nishimura [Sales/Project Management] Keisuke Yoshida [design, layout] Takayuki Kobayashi, Kenichi Suzuki, Makio Miura [Design Management] Kazunobu Nakamura [Production/ construction] Johei Saito

This project involves the relocation and reconstruction of the Ishinomaki Cultural Center, a museum in Ishinomaki City that was damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Following the earthquake, Ishinomaki City planned a new complex of cultural facilities, including a theater and a museum, to serve as a new cultural hub within the city, and the development of the Ishinomaki City Museum, which will succeed the Ishinomaki Cultural Center, has been underway. The Ishinomaki City Museum's concept is "a museum that disseminates the rich history of Ishinomaki nurtured by the great river and the sea," and it consists of a history and culture displays room, a Mori Collection displays room, a Takahashi Eikichi works displays room, an exhibition room for pioneers associated with Ishinomaki, and a special displays room. The distinctive features of displays displays experience include displays that focus on "landscape" as a new way of being a history museum, displays that share "history = time" in collaboration with contemporary artist Yamagami Yukihiro, displays space concept design that resonates with the architectural design of the complex of cultural facilities, and hands-on displays that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the real thing, imagine the scene, and learn history, with various efforts made to draw out the interests and concerns of visitors from multiple angles. In addition, exhibitions will be held in the special displays room, which meets the requirements of a "publicly approved facility" that allows for the borrowing and public display of valuable materials.

This project involved the reopening of the south zone on the first floor of the main building of S-PAL Koriyama, adjacent to JR Koriyama Station. The aim was to enhance the flow of daily use, catering to diverse customer needs and offering numerous shops for lifestyle coordination. The proposed environmental design concept is "RAMBLING STATION TOWN." Based on the theme of "an urban shopping center where people gather at the station and enjoy a pleasant time, like strolling through a town," the entire space was enveloped in a fashionable yet gentle atmosphere. Specifically, the facility's facade features a "rhythm line border" bathed in indirect light, reminiscent of Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture—a "city of music" known for its vibrant musical scene. This border extends to envelop the station concourse, creating a new patio for passersby and S-PAL Koriyama. Furthermore, within the facility, a coffered ceiling composed of wood and white rhythm lines, using "musical scores" as a concept design element, was strategically placed in conjunction with the Nakajima tenant environment. This rhythmic guidance draws people deeper into the facility. S-PAL Koriyama aims to be a place supported by customers of all ages as an urban shopping center. [Social Issues/Customer Issues/Requests] - As the project was being promoted at the same time as the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2020, the way in which commercial businesses attract customers was questioned. - Due to the earthquake in the spring of 2021, safety design was strongly required. - There was a need to upcycle the environment by utilizing the existing lease lines without changing the main flow of people. [Solution] While the lines of the circulating flow remained the same, the floor material was renewed to resemble cobblestones, and wooden material was incorporated in some parts to connect the entire facility, creating a street that allows visitors to enjoy strolling around town. In the atrium environment that serves as the axis of vertical circulation within the facility, the "Rhythmical Line Gate," which is reminiscent of "Rakuto" (city of music), was added to the existing design, and the "New Center Court" was renovated to become a concept design symbol for the entire facility, providing visitors with a natural and symbolic park environment that combines "things x events x moments". A new stage has been created for people passing through town and for S-PAL Koriyama. <Our Project Members> [Planners] Hiroko Okazaki, Yuri Watamoto [Sales & Project Management] Hiroyuki Uesugi [design, layout] Kenichi Suzuki, Makio Miura [Production & construction] Johei Saito

A proposal competition was held for the complete renewal of SEPPAL SENDAI II in June 2020, 13 years after its opening in 2008, and we were selected. The environmental design concept we proposed for the renewal is [MORI TERRACE], to refine Tohoku's highest level of sensitivity and transform it into a new select store zone that offers customers proposals that are one step ahead of their lifestyles. Under the themes of "cozier than anywhere else" and "inspiration for everyday life," the entire space was composed based on organic lines and earth colors, enveloping the entire area in a mode and gentle atmosphere. Specifically, "big awnings and greenery" were deployed in the exterior plaza to create a new nexus between the facility and the people on the street. In addition, a light court on the ceiling, which is an element of "sunlight filtering through the trees" (concept design), is placed inside the facility in conjunction with the corridor environment, drawing people to the back of the facility through the sunlight. The light court is linked to the passageway environment, leading people to the back of the facility through the trees. The building aims to be a place that will be supported by customers of all ages with next-generation values by providing a sense of "relaxation and a sense of fun" with a sophisticated sensitivity. The project started in August 2020, when the Corona Disaster was to be promoted, and it was a development project that was questioned as to how to attract customers to commercial facilities. While negotiations with tenants were difficult, the project required an upcycling of the environment, with 90% of the main traffic lines using the existing lines. In addition to attracting customers, the project was also required to create a "new nexus between people on the street and S-PAR Sendai," and to attract and spread people further into the facility. SOLUTION: We installed "the most comfortable big awning and greenery" and "LED vision that provides inspiration for daily life" in the external plaza as a nodal point for people on the street, and as an information transmission plaza for this facility located at the northernmost point of S-PAL Sendai, we are providing information about events and tenants to the people on the street. It is a plaza that transmits information about events and tenants to people on the street. The LED Vision also provides hints for future content development, with a view to developing into a media medium from an interactive perspective between the facility and its customers, and creates a connection between the people on the street and the S-PAL. The goal was to create a place where people could "feel, touch, and communicate" from a passing facility. ＜Our project members＞ [Sales and project management] Hiroyuki Uesugi [Planning] Chihiro Watakai, Mayu Nakamura [design, layout] Kenichi Suzuki [Structural design] Taizo Komatsu [Production, construction] Tatsuo Sato

For humans, whose natural habitat is land, spending long periods at sea is stressful both physically and mentally. To balance this, the design actively incorporates land-based elements that are in opposition to marine elements. These elements include the verticality of plants growing vertically against the horizontality of the drifting sea surface, the straight lines of buildings and windows against the curves of waves and fish, and the weightiness of trees and rocks against the floating concept design of ships and bubbles. The exterior deconstructs and reconstructs the company name, creating a Japanese pattern reminiscent of lanterns and kumiki (latticework). <Our Project Members> [Sales/Project Management] Ryo Fujime, Keita Suda [concept design /Basic Planning] no.10: Keita Aono, Shohei Suzuki [schematic design / working drawings / interior administration] no.10: Shohei Suzuki

A storehouse in the samurai residences of Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture has been renovated into a lodging facility. The concept is "KURA STAY," and the hotel is a cultural experience hotel where the lifestyle of the time has been preserved in the storehouse. The hotel consists of three storehouses, the "Bushigura," the "Gakkogura," and the "Tamonogura," for rent. The space incorporates Kakunodate's traditional crafts of birch crafts and Iburi-gakko production scenes, textile art such as plant dyeing, and samurai family crests, providing a local cultural experience throughout the stay. In addition, decorations have been provided in cooperation with local shops, and information is provided within the facility, which also serves as a tourist hub to encourage travel.

This facility in Iwate Prefecture is the first of its kind in Japan to be related to the Great East Japan Earthquake at the national or prefectural level. To prevent a recurrence of the tragedy of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011, it aims to pass on the facts and lessons of the earthquake and tsunami to future generations and to communicate the progress of reconstruction both domestically and internationally. With displays theme "Protecting Lives, Living in Harmony with the Sea and Land," the facility allows visitors to thoroughly learn about the history of tsunami damage in the Sanriku region, the facts and lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami through displays, graphics, videos, and other materials. <Our Project Members> [Development] Shin Yoshioka [Sales & Project Management] Takeshi Mariko [Planning] Eri Saito, Naoko Nakase [Design] Shuji Masaki, Sayaka Horikoshi, Mitsuyo Ashida, Ikuho Tominaga [Production & construction] Akio Hiraishi

This is displays project for the newly established "Akita Dog Village" in Odate City, the sacred land of Akita dogs. Taking advantage of this valuable opportunity to interact with real Akita dogs, we created displays space where visitors can learn about how to interact with Akita dogs and their relationship with Odate City in an enjoyable way. [Client's Challenges/Requests] As it is located in front of JR Odate Station and is adjacent to the tourist information center, it was necessary to create an exhibition that is easy for tourists to enjoy and provides just the right amount of information. In addition, the design of the area where visitors can interact with real dogs must be concept design to not stress the dogs, which required ingenuity. [Solution] We created a bright and comfortable space that evokes the image of a slightly adult camping trip, using tents and hammocks. Within this space, visitors can play with stamps and frottage, and learn about the history of Akita dogs born in Odate. The displays area is designed with consideration for the dogs' stress levels, and easy-to-manage cages have been introduced. <Our Project Members> [Sales & Project Management] Akira Kato [Planning] Mima Inagaki [design, layout] Yu Uehara, Mika Watanabe [Production & construction] Junya Hanayama

In Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, they have been cultivating "showcase chrysanthemums," such as chrysanthemum doll dolls and "multi-flowered" chrysanthemums that produce hundreds or thousands of flowers from a single stem. However, their activities were limited to exhibitions at chrysanthemum shows and autumn chrysanthemum displays. With the desire to utilize chrysanthemums in a way that suits the modern era, in a variety of scenes and spaces, they launched the "Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Town Branding Project" in 2016, aiming to enhance the appeal of Nihonmatsu chrysanthemums. In 2017, the second year of the project, they requested branding services from our company, whose founding was partly inspired by the large-scale expansion of chrysanthemum doll doll exhibitions nationwide during the Meiji era, which became a major draw for visitors. Together with Nihonmatsu City, we helped to enhance the new value of Nihonmatsu's traditional chrysanthemum cultivation and evolve "Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Town" into a brand that can be promoted throughout Japan and the world. ◆Project Website *You will be redirected to an external website. Please click the URL below if you wish to proceed. http://senrinzaki.jp/ *Please note: ・The linked website is not the website of NOMURA Co.,Ltd. and is not under our control. ・The website address listed in this notice is current as of the time this page was created. Website addresses may be discontinued or changed. Please check the latest address yourself. ・For information regarding the linked website, please contact the organization or group that provides the link. [Customer's Challenges/Requests] We want to brand and develop a new business around the chrysanthemum cultivation in Nihonmatsu City, where advanced horticultural chrysanthemum cultivation techniques such as chrysanthemum doll dolls and Senrinzaki remain, and make it a symbol of intergenerational exchange and community development. Furthermore, by branding Nihonmatsu City's chrysanthemums, we hope to create new businesses and new fields for second-hand chrysanthemum products (souvenirs, chrysanthemum goods, etc.), and increase employment in the tourism industry and other service industries by increasing the number of visitors who come to see the chrysanthemums. [Solution] - Marketing and market research for the floriculture and display industries, identification of challenges in product supply, and development of sales strategies - Development of brand concept - Development of brand logo and colors - Production of a product catalog to promote Nihonmatsu chrysanthemums such as "Senrinzaki," "Hyakutarin," and "Kengai" - Production of a project-specific landing page - Development of a promotion strategy - Production of a promotional video (Japanese and English) - Support and production of event participation - Holding of branding and product development seminars for local businesses - Product development support [Customer Feedback] We received many suggestions for new ways to showcase the traditional Nihonmatsu chrysanthemums, such as the creation of promotional tools that further bring out their appeal, and participation in art events that we had never considered before, allowing us to confirm the potential of Nihonmatsu chrysanthemums. Through this project, we were able to introduce "Senrinzaki" to many people both domestically and internationally, and we were able to achieve our first overseas expansion. In addition to promotion and displays, we received support in a wide range of areas, including the development of related products with local businesses and advice on the "chrysanthemum doll Exhibition," which helped to build enthusiasm among the citizens. <Our Project Members> [Sales/Project Management] Hiroshi Yokota [Planning/Direction] Yuki Shimokuni [design, layout] Tomoki Fukano, Yuri Nakagawa [PR] Korei Fukazawa [Production/ construction (for DESIGNART TOKYO 2017/2018 exhibition)] Takeshi Shimada [Collaboration for DESIGNART TOKYO 2018 exhibition] Keiko Uchiyama (NOMLAB) ・NOMLAB DESIGNART 2018 exhibited work "Senrinzaki" Chrysanthemum MR http://www.nomlab.jp/jp/projects/detail/15 ・Release Information https://www.nomurakougei.co.jp/uploads/news/attachments/1/a7a75355626e63682aa71e0b4fb11fc91cfaa652524366dc8f100e9f068d9f55.pdf

[Project Description] This project involves the renovation of the hot spring facilities at the main building of the Akiu Grand Hotel in the Akiu Onsen area of Sendai City. We aimed to create a hot spring facility that maximizes the excellent location along the Rairaikyo Gorge, allowing guests to feel a sense of unity with the four seasons of Akiu and the Rairaikyo Gorge, while also possessing the characteristic charm of the Akiu Grand Hotel and a modern impression. [Client's Challenges/Requests] There is a walking path for tourists between the Rairaikyo Gorge and the hotel, which stands along the gorge, so it was necessary to ensure that the hot spring facilities were not visible from either the walking path or the hot spring facilities. In addition, we took care to make the facility safe and easy for three generations to use, such as by reducing the difference in height between the steps leading to the baths. The men's bath is themed "Bonten no Yu - A bath of forgetfulness where you can cherish the four seasons of Akiu, enjoy a sense of unity with Raikyo Gorge, and heal your heart in a Zen-like tranquility," while the women's bath is concept design "Aihime no Yu - A serene, modern resort that resonates with the nature of Raikyo Gorge, a bath for beautiful skin where you can truly relax in an extraordinary space." [Solution] When you open the sliding door to the hot spring, you are greeted with a serene atmosphere where the natural beauty of Raikyo Gorge is like looking at a painting, and hot spring water gushes out from a large natural stone carved out like a water basin. The seasonal scenery of Raikyo Gorge is reflected in the water of the open-air bath, and to further enhance the sense of unity with nature, the edge of the bathtub has been made infinity so that it is not visible. Furthermore, the boundary wall between the men's and women's open-air baths utilizes large stones that have been there since ancient times, the floor is made of Towada stone with a pale blue-green color that gives a sense of cleanliness, and the ceiling is made of wood-grain panels that give a modern impression, creating a stylish and high-quality atmosphere. Large, openable glass sashes are placed in the center of the indoor bath, connecting the inside and outside during pleasant seasons, allowing for a sense of spaciousness. <Our Project Members> [Development] Masayoshi Nishibori, Isao Oyama, Mitsuhiro Sato [Sales] Hiroyuki Uesugi [Creative Direction] Miwa Matsubara [design, layout] Miwa Matsubara, Yoshiyuki Takahashi, Takeshi Honda [Production and construction] Manabu Fukuda, Masaaki Takase, Ken Aizawa [Architectural Supervision] Hiroshi Ueno

In conjunction with the expansion of the East-West Free Passage in the Sendai Station Renovation Project, we promoted environmental design in the facility for the new East Wing expansion of the Espal Sendai Store East Wing and the renovation of the existing building schematic design under design administration of JR East, which is in charge of design administration. The plan was to expand the floor space of Stellnet I T and grand open the 2nd and 3rd floors of the main building in March 2016, and to open the 1st floor of the main building in March 2017 and Stellnet II in June 2017. We assisted working drawings and construction operations for the first three floors of the main building and schematic design for Stellne.

[Project Overview] Saito Confectionery's main store was damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake. Subsequently, in the central urban area of Ofunato, a base for reconstruction, they reopened "Sanriku Kasho Saito Main Store" as "Kamome Terrace," a flagship store with an attached confectionery workshop, with even more power. With the aim of realizing President Saito's wish to "propose a new form of 'engawa' (veranda) that values the feeling of relaxation as if you were on a veranda, as a place to welcome visitors with sweets," our company was in charge from the basic concept to construction. We assisted in the creation of a flagship store in a consistent manner, from architectural concept design and interior to interiors, video, logo mark creation, shopping bags, business cards, and other VI concept design. [Client's Challenges] 1) They want the store to be more than just a store, but a hub for community exchange and tourism. They want to create mechanisms to achieve this. 2) They want to appeal to customers with a wide range of products through branding that does not rely solely on their main product, "Kamome no Tamago" (Seagull Egg). How can we clearly and consistently zone the four brands operated by Saito Confectionery (COCOA Bakery, Le Pommier Western Confectionery, Sanriku Confectionery Saito Japanese Confectionery, and Saito Mochi Shop with Nostalgic Flavors)? B We want to include a workshop for the confectionery (Hikari no Asa) that will be released at the same time as the store opens. We want to pay attention to specifications and finishing to ensure hygiene, and consider ways to present the manufacturing process, safety, and security. [Solution] A large symbolic kids' space, inspired by the "Kamome no Tamago" (Seagull Egg) that is visually appealing on social media, was created, along with a cafe space reminiscent of a veranda where customers can gather. In addition, a multi-purpose kitchen space where customers can create their own original Kamome no Tamago (DECO Kamome no Tamago) was installed in a visible area of the store, making it a major attraction. All spaces are separated by glass, allowing customers to see the confectionery being made next to where it is sold, creating a space that appeals to safety and security, among other various measures. <Our Project Members> [Sales & Project Management] Hiroyuki Uesugi [Overall Direction] Hiroyuki Iizumi [design, layout] Kiwamu Okamoto, Takashi Morifuji, Toru Fukiura [Signage & Video Direction] Mayumi Tenma [Production & construction] Manabu Fukuda, Masaya Sawaguchi