Works#Sustainability

At the demonstration plant "RITE Future Forest" exhibited by the National Institute of Global Environmental Technology (RITE) at the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo), we provided comprehensive production from planning, concept design, architecture, displays design and supervision to operational support. The facility is engaged in demonstration experiments of future technologies that are expected in the future by combining both DAC (Direct Air Capture)*1, which directly captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and CCS (Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage)*2, which stores carbon dioxide directly from the ground. This project aims to create a new forest in the future, by capturing carbon dioxide emitted by humans with human power. In the Guidance Building, we also worked on architecture as a demonstration experiment for new technologies, and realized the world's first future wooden construction technology, the CLT*3-fold structure hanging method, based on the concept of the forest of the future. The hang-up method is a conceptual method in which triangular CLT panels that are tightly connected to each other by hinge hardware are laid on a horizontal surface, and a specific part is lifted by a crane to deform it like origami under its own weight to form a folding plate structure. This time, by using this construction method, it was also an architectural demonstration project to create a large space with a structure with an expressive expression and to promote the spread of CLT structures that have both concept design, functionality, and construction. As a result, an architectural space that exudes a sacred atmosphere that exudes a sense of tightness has emerged, and the CLT folding structure itself made of domestic cedar has become a unique building that realizes an acoustic environment like a concert hall that resonates with displays videos and performances. After the exhibition, there are plans to relocate to the RITE headquarters in Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture in order to use it as a sustainable building. Through exhibiting at the Expo and subsequent utilization, we addressed various social issues such as reducing carbon dioxide emissions, minimizing waste, and promoting the spread of CLT structures. *1 Technology to reduce CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere by removing CO₂ from the atmosphere *2 Technology to collect emitted CO₂ and store it in the ground *3 Wood-based materials made by layering and bonding the ground sheets so that the fiber directions are orthogonal after arranging them.

This is Kawasaki Heavy Industries' displays space at the "City of the Future" pavilion at the 2025 World Exposition, Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo). displays concept is "Mobility Instinct Laboratory." The Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group's vision of a mobility society in 2050 is expressed through an experiential displays using a full-scale mobility vehicle. Through visitors' experiences of "seeing," "touching," and "experiencing," the space provides a sense of great hope and expectation for the future of mobility. By combining a spatial presentation that combines a futuristic feel with an immersive feeling using large LEDs with displays and experience using a full-scale mobility vehicle, the space allows visitors to experience the future of mobility as if it were their own.

EARTH MART, the signature pavilion for the 2025 World Exposition in Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo), was produced by Kundo Koyama. Based on the theme of "Considering Life through Food," it shares the potential of the food culture cultivated by the Japanese people and the evolution of food through technology, creating a space for considering "new ways of eating" that will lead us into the future. The design, which showcases "life" in a supermarket setting typically filled with "food," allows visitors to experience and gain insights into the background of life. Discovering value in everyday scenes provides an opportunity to reflect on the choices we make in various daily situations. Furthermore, the space is constructed using living materials such as "vegetable flowers" and "recycled eggs made from eggshells." The content itself was developed in collaboration with various people involved in food (farmers, sushi chefs, biotechnology researchers), creating an "integrated worldview" that unfolds in the space, thereby conveying its message. By resetting various assumptions through these "fragments of life," visitors can become aware of what is truly important to life, develop gratitude and kindness, and experience a subtle happiness. This product embodies Producer Koyama's desire to leave you with a lasting impression that makes you want to cherish mealtimes just a little more than yesterday.

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.

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.

The zelkova trees lining the streets are covered in fresh greenery, transforming Sendai into the most beautiful "City of Forests" in May. The Sendai Aoba Festival, a period festival showcasing the "stylishness of the Date clan," is held in May. This festival began in 1985, marking the 350th anniversary of the death of Date Masamune, as a revival of a festival held in the Sendai domain during the Edo period. The fourth festival, held in 1988, saw the creation of five Sendai Yamaboko floats, recreating the traditional Yamaboko procession. Five more were added the following year, and another was created in 1995, bringing the total to eleven. Our Tohoku Branch was involved in the creation of the floats from the early stages, and thanks to that connection, all branch staff continue to support the procession every year. In 2025, the 12th Yamaboko, the "Borrowful Harvest Yamaboko," will be added to the festival for the first time in 30 years. Creating a new Yamahoko requires a considerable amount of money. Furthermore, it requires the participation of more than 100 people, including the pullers and dancers, so the sponsor must be a fairly large local organization or group. In this situation, the new Yamahoko was realized with the cooperation of Iris Ohyama, which is based in Sendai, Miyagi. Our company has a long-standing relationship with the Sendai Aoba Festival, and was in charge of the concept design and production work. *Dates: 2 days, the third Sunday of May every year and the day before.

The Hiwasa Sea Turtle Museum Caretta is a rare sea turtle museum located on Ohama Beach in Tokushima Prefecture, and is beloved as the oldest loggerhead turtle conservation site in the region. At the same time, it also serves as a base facility for the local Minami Town's plan to increase the return rate of sea turtles. This renovation has created a place where people can learn about the coexistence of humans and nature through sea turtles and nurture the next generation of leaders by providing a comfortable space for visitors and making it easy for sea turtles to live in from the perspective of animal welfare.

The new indoor playground "mirocco" opened in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture in July 2025. It aims to be a place where not only children can play to their heart's content, but also families and local people can enjoy together. This facility was built by renovating the pool and hot spring facilities at the indoor facility "Tamarina" in 22nd Century Hill Park in Mansui, Kakegawa City, and renovating it into an all-weather playground. We were responsible for the entire process, from concept formulation to design, construction of interiors, play equipment, decoration, and operation, while utilizing our know-how in regional revitalization and facility business. In addition, as an independent DBO* project, we made private investments in this facility, and improved the facility's appeal by adding play equipment, built-in furniture, signs, graphics, etc. About the facility concept/space concept design The facility concept is "Let's create a bouncy everyday life." The name "mirocco" was decided by vote, with the intention of creating a facility that everyone will want to visit 365 days a year (3=mi/6=ro/5=ko). The main areas are "Guru Guru no Yama" where you can play with play equipment, "Waku Waku Base" where you can play quietly, "Hitoyasumi Lounge" where adults can relax, and "Haihai no Hara" where babies can play safely. In addition to these areas, "This Is Cafe", which has new stores in Shizuoka Prefecture, will open in Tamarina and offer a menu that is easy for customers of all ages to use. In addition, the interiors of the facility, play equipment, benches, etc. are made with local resources, and environmentally friendly materials are used in various places, such as benches made from local felled wood, a craft space where scraps and waste materials are used as craft materials, and plaster walls made from Kakegawa's "soil". *DBO: Abbreviation for Design Build Operate, a business method for developing public facilities. The public sector commissions private businesses to design, build, and operate the facility.

I-NEC has relocated Head Office to Frontier Meieki, an environmentally friendly, cutting-edge office building in Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya. The concept is "rays of hope," with the symbolic color "I-NEC Blue" and light interwoven in the space, so that people can take a new step and feel a hopeful future. The cutting-edge office space combines environmental consideration with concept design, and concept design elements of "light," "blue," and "environmentally friendly materials" create a place that embodies the company's purpose and vision. Under the direction of Taki Tanaka, representative of IZA, who is in charge of I-NEC's branding, a symbolic piece of "light" art was installed at the reception in collaboration with Takahiro Matsuo (artwork), representative of LUCENT Inc, and Setsuya Kurotaki (sound concept design), representative of NOiR inc. In addition, the entire office is gently enveloped in I-NEC Blue, bringing a sense of unity and connection to all who gather here. In addition, the existing base for the OA floor was washed and used as is, eliminating the need for finishing materials to reduce the environmental impact, and the walls are made of cement tiles made from recycled waste materials such as coal ash from thermal power plants and used coffee beans. We were in charge of the design and construction.

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 Animal Science Museum, located within Chiba City Zoological Park, has undergone a complete renovation of its displays the flora and fauna that inhabit the rainforest, such as gorillas, birds, and nocturnal animals, visitors can learn about the interconnectedness of life and the preciousness of the global environment through displays before and after.

The hotel is directly connected to Kitahiroshima Station on the JR Chitose Line, the closest station to Hokkaido Ballpark F Village. The first to third floors are commercial facilities, and the fourth to thirteenth floors are the hotel with a total of 158 guest rooms. We were mainly in charge of concept design and construction of the hotel lobby and the guest room floor on the 11th floor, which has a Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters theme. The lobby space is sprinkled with baseball-themed elements, and the ceiling features an image of the Fighters' home stadium, S.Con Field HOKKAIDO, and the Fighters colors are used to create an exciting space. The Fighters floor has a corridor as a gallery space, where autographed uniforms and photos of players are displays, and the guest rooms are chicly coordinated in black to evoke the image of S.Con Field, and you can see the stadium from the windows.

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.

This facility is a conservation and research facility for the Amami rabbit, a special natural monument. The name of the facility, "Kuruguru," means "dark black" in Shimaguchi (Amami dialect), and represents the Amami rabbit's coat color and the image of life circulating round and round. Here, visitors can take on the rabbit's scale and adventure through the night forest. They will be surprised by cars that suddenly appear and huge predators, and push aside plants and flowers taller than themselves to search for forest creatures that react to the black light. The facility is designed to help visitors understand the rabbit's feelings and fears by seeing them from the rabbit's perspective, and to foster empathy. Furthermore, the treatment room for rescued rabbits is fully open to visitors, showing the reality of injuries caused by traffic accidents and other causes, and the facility is a place where visitors can watch over rescued rabbits until they are released back into the wild, surrounded by the nature of Amami Oshima, and think about the coexistence of humans and rabbits.