AIA Japan

AIA Japan Enoura Observatory Guided Walking Tour
2024-05-25 13:30 - 16:30 UTC
Title:
AIA Japan Enoura Observatory Guided Walking Tour
Date/Time:
25 May 2024 / 1330-1530 / JST
Tour:
Approximately 2-hour Tour conducted by Haruko Hoyle, Director Odawara Art Foundation
Description:
The Enoura Observatory is located in a beautiful, hilly area covered with citrus grove in Enoura, Odawara. Contemporary Artist, Hiroshi Sugimoto, created a forum for disseminating art and culture within Japan and to the world and comprises a gallery space, a noh stage, revived Tensho-era tea ceremony room, the restored Muromachi Period Meigetsu Gate and a strolling garden. The Artist wanted Visitors to be inspired by art and to contemplate their own life through time, culture, past history and reconnecting with nature at Enoura.
Learning Objective 1:
Connect the purpose of art and revival of ancient traditions at Enoura Observatory with the mission of Odawara Art Foundation founded by contemporary artist, Hiroshi Sugimoto.
Learning Objective 2:
Understand the mission of Hiroshi Sugimoto’s New Material Research Laboratory to preserve traditional Japanese materials and methods of craftsmanship.
Learning Objective 3:
Observe Sugimoto’s production of classical Japanese theater arts to avant-garde stage art and exhibits of his photographs and art works created as a visionary tribute to nature and art.
Learning Objective 4:
Explore Sugimoto’s contemplative experience in architecture and landscape design in their ideal relationship with beautiful nature at Enoura in Odawara.
This Tour is pending CES 2 LU Credits.

Lecuture: Carlos Arnaiz
2024-06-13 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Come join us at CIC Tokyo for a special lecture by Architect Carlos Arnaiz.
CES Pending
• Lecture topic—Carlos Arnaiz examines the ecological and technological disruptions that are altering how we think about and alter our built environment today. Navigating through these disruptions requires us to look at systems and processes in entirety, rather than the workings of individual parts. Studying different tendencies and aesthetic regimes that emerge across geographies not only deepens our systems-based design thinking, but also enhances our metabolic understanding of buildings within landscapes.
• Short bio—Carlos Arnaiz is an architect, educator, writer and urban design consultant. He is the founder and principal of CAZA, the co-founder of SURBA and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design at Pratt Institute where he teaches a class on the history of ideas about the city and a studio on multi-family housing. His professional experience ranges from the design and construction of large-scale mixed-used complexes to the development of strategic sustainability plans for new cities around the world. Carlos holds a Master’s Degree, with Honors, from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and a Bachelor’s Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Williams College. Carlos’ work has been recognized with prestigious awards such as two consecutive Progressive Architecture awards in 2008 and 2009 and the AIANY building merit award in 2008. His projects has also been selected as Finalist for ArchDaily’s Best Buildings of the Year, as well as Finalist for Architizer A+ Awards.
Registrants will receive an email with a QR code to enter the venu.
This is an in person event.
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Register here:
https://peatix.com/event/4016323/view

Shigenori Uoya: Gallery MA Visit
2024-06-15
Description from Gallery Ma website:
Shigenori Uoya has renovated over 120 Kyo-machiya (Kyoto’s traditional townhouses) based on his research on the composition of Kyoto and other cities and is engaged in architectural practice focused on the issue of inheriting urban context. In Kyoto, historic cityscapes are on the verge of extinction, with machiya (townhouses) and nagaya (rowhouses) being demolished and replaced with condominiums and parking lots daily. In this context, Uoya strives to pass on the architectural legacy not only of machiya but also of alleys and allotments.
For example, in “Nagaya and Historical Alley with Containers,” he covered a corner of a nagaya building with a steel frame, combining it with containers to meet the needs of modern use while preserving the alley. The “Kakkyoyama Common Center for Gion Festival,” which received the 2023 Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) Award (Work), is an extension combining an existing wooden construction with a steel frame construction to revitalize a historical meeting hall for the Gion Festival while leveraging the legal system for architectural conservation. By weaving modern technology into historical and regional contexts using various methods, Uoya aims to pass on streetscapes and buildings to the next 100 years to realize richer urban spaces and urban habitats. Based on his extensive hands-on experience in Kyoto, Uoya’s practice is expanding to other parts of Japan and abroad.
The exhibition title, “Re-Weaving Urban Fabrics,” expresses Uoya’s perspective on cities and architecture. The phrase “Re-Weaving Urban Fabrics” encompasses meanings of two phrases, “Layering Time in the City” and “Re-editing Urban Structures.” Through this exhibition, we hope to convey to visitors the possibilities of contemporary architecture that connects history and the future.

Register here:
https://peatix.com/event/3999323/view

CES Pending.

Shingo Masuda: Architecture from Outside
2024-07-19 18:30 - 21:00 UTC
Summary
Japan fulfilled its massive post war housing demand in a little more than 30 years. Since 1974, the industry changed from speed and ease to “spatiality,” an abstract term invented to sustain production, from which an integrated spatial concept of “inside and outside” developed to the present.
Interior spaces are most affected by the outside – for example views that enter the building from windows and openings can completely alter the interior. Space, environment, and experience are continuous from the city and surroundings to the inside of buildings, yet buildings are generally still designed from the inside out.
This lecture and discussion will explore how to think about architecture beyond the building itself. Can we design from the outside in? How can we build up architecture from the outside?
About the Speaker
Shingo Masuda founded Shingo Masuda + Katsuhisa Otsubo in 2007 with Katsuhisa Otsubo. Their major works include Boundary Window (2014), Initiative Roof (2016), Heptad Pot (2021), and most recently Empty Drop (2024), for the Triennale Brugge in Belgium (Shinkenchiku July 2024 Issue).
Their office approach entails making careful observations and a thorough diagnosis of the daily activities planned for a site and the existing context, pinpointing the elements that can contribute most to shaping a place, and formulating a plan for what needs to be designed. This methodology reflects their pure attitude towards design, which drives them to purge their work of arbitrariness and approach things objectively. By being developed through this process, their architectural works that establish a bold presence even while melding into their surroundings are able to challenge our preconceptions and bring fresh wonder to familiar everyday landscapes.
Shingo Masuda graduated Musashino Art University and was the Baird visiting critic at Cornell University in 2015; a specially appointed associate professor at Meiji University from 2019-2022; In 2023, he was an adjunct associate professor at Hong Kong University and a Design Critic in Architecture at GSD Harvard University.

Mitsuhiro Kanada (arup japan) Socially Sustainable Way of Building -Natural Material as Catalyst for Community Engagement-
2024-08-02 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Manas Trading Showroom, Nakameguro Okura Bldg. 1-chōme-26-9 Kamimeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo, 153-0051, Japan
Friday, August 2, 19:00-21:00
at Manas Trading Showroom (see map)
Join us on Friday, August 2nd, at 19:00 for Mitsuhiro Kanada’s lecture titled, “Socially Sustainable Way of Building: Natural Material as Catalyst for Community Engagement.” This lecture will be online and in-person at the Manas Trading Showroom in Nakameguro. For those joining use in person, we will prepare light snacks and drinks afterwards. This is a great opportunity to meet the speaker, browse the showroom, and socialize with other Tokyo architects, engineers and design professionals. We would like to thank our sponsor Lutron, for hosting this lecture.
Lecture Topic:
The lecture will begin with a general introduction of the role of structure in architectural design today. Through recent example projects, different ways of collaboration between an architect and an engineer will be presented. Building materials impact environmental sustainability. Natural materials can also encourage social sustainability of buildings. The scale of this impact is not only to the building occupants but also the local community. The lecture will show projected and actual impacts of built projects. Also, new and traditional natural material examples will be introduced through experimental projects.
Lecturer Bio:
Born in Tokyo in 1970. Mits Kanada has studied architectural design and structural engineering at University of California at Berkeley. After graduating from UC Berkeley with Master of Science, he has joined Arup, a global engineering consultancy based in 37 countries with more than 90 offices. Based in Tokyo and London, he has been involved in challenging projects such as Maison Hermes by Renzo Piano and Taichung Metropolitan Opera House by Toyo Ito. Since 2007 he has been teaching at Tokyo University of the Arts, where he researches the possibilities of modern interpretation of traditional Japanese materials and technology. He is a member of Arup Foresight + Innovation network, responsible for strategic future forecasting consulting through innovation.
CES: Learning Objectives: 1.5 LU pending
1. Participants will be able to identify the active role of structure within their architectural design.
2. Participants will be able to engage their design partners for more effective design collaboration.
3. Participants will be able to understand the social aspect of building sustainability with real examples.
4. Participants will be able to analyze how traditional materials could be used for modern use to satisfy current sustainability requirements.
Venue schedule:
Doors open – 18.45
Lecture start time – 19.00
Lecture end time – 20.30
Drinks, snacks, mingle, network until 21.15

TOSHIKO KINOSHITA "The Work of Heritage Houses Trust"
2024-09-07 11:30 - 13:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | HERITAGE HOUSES TRUST, 1 Chome-11-7 Jiyugaoka, Meguro City, Tokyo, Japan
Saturday, September 7, 11:00-13:00 at the Heritage Houses Trust
lecture followed by a tour of Sonoda House by Junzo Yoshimura.
Lecture Topic:
This event includes a lecture on the work of the non-profit organization Heritage Houses Trust and a tour of the Sonoda House, which the Trust was actually involved in preserving. The participants will exchange opinions on the current status of the preservation and utilization of historical buildings in Japan, including issues relating to inheritance,preservation and utilization and the role of architects in this field in the future.
Lecturer Bio:
Born in Kobe in 1969. Graduated from Japan Woman’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1993, Shibaura Institute of Technology with a Master of Science degree in 1995 and University of London with a Master of Arts degree in 1996. Rotary Foundation scholar at the Mackintosh School of Architecture from 1996-97. Doctoral student at University of Tokyo from 2000-05. Lecturer in architectural history at Tokyo Science University from 2000-05 and at Tokyo Denki University from 2006-08. She founded Community Housing Ltd. in 2013 with her partner Juan Pablo Ordonez Q. Currently a board of directors of Heritage Houses Trust and NPO Tamagawa Machizukuri House. Publications include ‘Visions of the Real: Modern Houses in the 20th Century I & II’(a+u, 2000).
CES: 2.0 LUs Approved
The work of Heritage Trust, non-profit organization, for preserving historically and culturally important residences designed by famous Japanese architects, is contributing to sustainability that the post-war approach of scrap and built, resulting in generation of large amounts of waste, is clearly not suited to the present age. It is time for Japanese people to learn to live in 100-year-old vintage houses, rather than being obsessed with newness and that old houses can be re-vitalized for the health, safety and welfare of its future occupants as well.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the number of factors that account for difficulty of preserving historical residences in Japan contributing to demolition of many houses that are still livable for health, safety and welfare of its residents.
2. Analyze how the Japanese real estate market is largely unreceptive of “used housing” including Japan real estate tax depreciation systems that encourage building of new homes instead of preserving houses of cultural value for the welfare of its neighborhood and community.
3. Describe that even when a property has been officially recognized for its historical and cultural value, the situation is precarious because it is privately owned and public financial support is weak. In many cases, the house is demolished at the time of generational change, to pay inheritance tax or/and inheritance division. Designation as a cultural property requires the agreement of the owner in practice and many owners hesitate their properties to be designated as cultural properties.
4. Explore the wonders of Sonoda House designed by Junzo Yoshimura and completed in 1955. Later in 1987, the addition was designed by Hiroshi Ogawa, former Yoshimura’s office staff. The house was successfully passed on to the present owner and now it is open to the public for music concerts and architectural visits.
Venue Schedule:
Doors open – 10:45
Lecture start time – 11:00
End time – 13:00
Venue info will be sent to registrants before the event.
REGISTER HERE

Sharon Prince: Introduction to Design for Freedom Lecture
2024-09-19 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | International House of Japan, 5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Sharon Prince, Founder, Grace Farms Foundation
Special Guests: Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA
LECTURE DESCRIPTION:
The Design for Freedom movement is raising awareness about the pervasiveness of forced and child labor in the building material supply chain. The built environment continues to be heavily reliant on forced labor. We will explore the risks of this humanitarian crisis and highlight ways you can take action towards transparency. Learn about the tools and resources available to use in advocating for a more humane future.
The lecture will be followed by a short discussion between Sharon Prince, and SANAA founder and architect of the Grace Farms building Kazuyo Sejima.
This lecture will be in English with Japanese translations.
講演テーマ
「Design for Freedom」運動は、建築資材のサプライチェーンにおける強制労働や児童労働の蔓延をテーマとして啓発を行ってきました。依然として、建築業界は強制労働に大きく依存し続けています。この人道的危機のリスクを探り、透明性の確保に向けて行動を起こす方法を紹介いたします。そして、より人道的な未来を提唱するために活用できるツールやリソースについても共有いたします。
講演の後、シャロン・プリンスとグレース・ファームズ を設計したSANAAの建築家による短いディスカッションを行います。
本講演は英語で行われ、日本語通訳がつきます。
LECTURER BIO:
Sharon Prince is the CEO and Founder of Grace Farms Foundation, a new kind of boundary-defying public space that advances good locally and globally. Prince commissioned Pritzker Prize-winning SANAA architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa to design Grace Farms, which has become widely known as a global humanitarian and cultural center located in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Grace Farms is the platform for the Foundation and its interdisciplinary humanitarian mission to pursue peace through nature, arts, justice, community, faith, and Design for Freedom, a global new movement to eliminate forced labor from the building materials supply chain.
After recognizing a void in addressing exploitation in the building materials supply chain in late 2017, Prince launched Design for Freedom in 2020 with a first-of-its-kind publication, a nearly 100-page Report that provides analysis and data on how forced labor is embedded into the very foundations of our buildings. At the inaugural Design for Freedom Summit in 2022, Grace Farms also released the Design for Freedom Toolkit, a practical resource professionals use to implement ethical sourcing strategies into their practices. Design for Freedom Pilot Projects on three continents, including a new long-term exhibit at Grace Farms, With Every Fiber, are demonstrating that building more humanely is possible.
講師略歴
シャロン・プリンスはグレース・ファームズ財団の創設者兼CEO。グレース・ファームズは、地域そして世界における発展を志向した、境界なき新たな公共空間です。財団の拠点であり、自然、芸術、正義、コミュニティ、信仰、そして、建築資材のサプライチェーンから強制労働をなくすための世界的な新しい運動である「Design for Freedom」を通して平和を追求する、この学際的な人道的使命のためのプラットフォームでもあります。
2017年末に建築資材のサプライチェーンにおける搾取への取り組みが全くなされていないことを認識したプリンスは、2020年に「Design for Freedom」を立ち上げ、いかに私たちの周りの建築物が、強制労働の上に成り立っているかを示すデータとその分析をまとめた、これまでにない全く新しい報告書を発行しました。そして2022年の第1回「自由のためのデザイン・サミット」において、グレース・ファームズは「Design for Freedomツールキット」を発表しました。このツールキットは、専門家が倫理的な資材調達の戦略を実践するために役立つ実践的なリソースです。グレース・ファームズでの新しい長期展示「With Every Fiber」を含む3大陸での「Design for Freedomパイロット・プロジェクト」は、建築がより人道的になり得ることを示しています。
REGISTER HERE (for Zoom Webinar)
REGISTER HERE (for In-Person)

NCARB & You: AXP, ARE, & Certification - AIA Japan: Online Session on Path to U.S. Licensure
2024-09-30 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
NCARB & You: AIA Japan
Join NCARB Assistant Vice President, International Relations, Patricia Ramallo, AIA, NCARB, MBA, CAE, LEED AP BD+C & Homes, for a presentation on a range of licensure topics relevant to students, aspiring architects, supervisors, architects, and people in the architecture profession. The presentation will review the steps necessary to achieve licensure to become an architect and other programs to get the most out of your career in architecture.
Topics will include:
• Background of NCARB
• The entities involved in the licensure process
• How to establish an NCARB Record
• How to progress successfully through the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®)
• What to expect with the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®)
• Recent changes to NCARB programs • Value of the NCARB Certificate • International Pathways

Join our online session with NCARB to discuss and answer your questions on how to become licensed in the U.S. while based in Japan.
NCARB is the National Council of Architectural Registration Board headquartered in Washington D.C.
This session is free and all are welcome.
Registration here

Cero 9 : Cristina Díaz Moreno & Efrén García Grinda Lecture
2024-10-10 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Cero 9 Founder and Principals, Cristina Díaz Moreno & Efrén García Grinda
Description
Worlding is the term used to review the architectural work and trajectory of Cristina Díaz Moreno and Efrén García Grinda, founders of the Madrid-based architecture studio amid.cero9. As an intellectual design method, worlding implies a particular way of being in the world. It considers a range of complexities, difficulties and challenges, while celebrating richness and diversity. Worlding also implies the activity of worldmaking as the definition of alternative, as well as real, concrete and physical micro-worlds. The definition of these parallel yet plausible worlds, understood as small-scale and autonomous material environments, offers an alternative to the exploitation, constant transformation and exhaustion of our physical one.
About Cero 9
Cristina Díaz Moreno & Efrén García Grinda are principals and founders of the internationally recognized architectural practice amid.cer09. Founded back in 1997 as a collaborative platform to investigate the intersections between architecture, culture and nature, the practice has evolved into a research-based design practice focused on contemporary urban, technological and cultural challenges. Intensely committed to the development of methodological disciplinary processes, amid.cero’s projects combine constructive precision with conceptual clarity and uncover the specific opportunities and special nature of each context, cultivating an approach to the contemporary notion of space that enlists sociology, technology, media and politics.
With a vast academic experience, they have been recently appointed Professors and directors of the Studio 1 in the Institute of Architecture at the Angewandte, Vienna, succeeding Zaha Hadid (2000-2015) and Kazuyo Sejima (2015-2019). They have been Visiting Lecturers at SOA, Princeton University (2017-), Diploma Unit Masters at the Architectural Association (2009-18), Visiting Professors at the Institut für Kunst und Architektur at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Vienna (2013-14, 2018-19), Design Critics in Architecture and co-directors of an Option Studio at the GSD, Harvard University (2015-2017) and Visiting Professors and Unit co-directors in the SAC StädSchule Architectural Class, Frankfürt (2016-2017).
REGISTER HERE

Underground Discharge Channel Tour
2024-10-26 12:00 - 14:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Tokyo Metropolitan Area Underground Discharge Channel Tour
Join us on Saturday October 26 for a a guided tour of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, the world’s largest underground flood water diversion facility. The project was built to store the excess stormwater during heavy rains and typhoons to avoid flooding in the low elevation high density urban areas. We will learn how this project was planned, built, and is being monitored to protect the city. The tour will be in Japanese with English Translations.
The channel consists of five D32m (105 ft) x H65m (213 ft) concrete containment silos connected by 6.4km (4.0 mi) of tunnels 50m (160 ft) beneath the surface. In addition, a water tank measuring L177m (581 ft) x W78m (256 ft) x H25.4m (83 ft) supported by 59 massive columns and connected to 78 pumps of 10 MW (13,000 hp) that can pump up to 200 metric tons (200 long tons; 220 short tons) of water into the Edo River per second.
This is a guided tour of the large stormwater management system protecting Tokyo and a visit to their exhibition. We will learn why so much effort was necessary to protect the city, how effective the system is. We will also explore what is being done to combat recent extreme weather incidences likely caused by the effects of climate change and what city projects can do to alleviate, if at all, the stresses on this system.
IMPORANT:
You will be required to climb / descend approximately 100 steps. There are no elevators or escalators, so you please be ready to walk and dress appropriately. The floor may be slippery so wear appropriate shoes.
The tour is free for AIA Japan members.
Due to limited capacity, AIAJ members will have priority over non-members. No children please.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Describe underground construction methods used for large scale infrastructure projects.
Identify risks and vulnerabilities of Tokyo city planning before and even after implementation.
Describe how the flood system is monitored and powered.
Describe the relationship between the man-made infrastructure and Edogawa River.

SCHEDULE:
12.00 – Meet at 〒344 – 0111 埼玉県春日部市上金崎 720 庄和排水機場内
12.00 – 12.50 Visit Underground Exploration Museum RYU-Q Kan
12.50 – Finish check in
13.00 – Tour start
14:00 – End Tour
REGISTER HERE

AIA Japan Board Meeting
2024-10-31 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
All members welcome.

onishimaki+hyakudayuki / o+h "Architecture, A Place to be Loved" Lecture
2024-11-09 17:00 - 19:15 (Asia/Tokyo) | Shibaura House, 3-15-4 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-0023, Japan
Join us on Saturday, November 9 for a special lecture in English by onishimaki+hyakudayuki / o+h titled, “Architecture, A Place to be Loved.” They will introduce their works and exhibition now on view at Gallery Ma in Tokyo (on view until November 24).
The lecture will be held at Shibaura House and will be both online and in-person.
Registration
Register here to attend in person at Shibaura House
REGISTER HERE TO JOIN ONLINE ZOOM WEBINAR

Lecture Description
The lecture will explore the concept of architecture as part of a “living whole,” emphasizing its relationship with people, nature, and time. It suggests that the act of building is a collaborative process that nurtures architecture appropriate to its environment. The lecture will touch on the following topics:
Whole of Life: Architecture is intertwined with the act of living; it emerges from collaboration and is shaped by its context.
Spatial Totality: Architecture creates an internal world while also being part of the larger external environment. It serves as a link between these worlds, creating a continuum that connects various scales.
Temporal Totality: Architecture exists across time, incorporating influences from the past and future. Each material carries historical significance, prompting a consideration of how to create spaces that resonate with all temporal dimensions.
Irreplaceability of Existence: Viewing architecture as a living entity encourages a deeper appreciation that goes beyond function and performance. This perspective allows for a more holistic understanding that embraces imperfections and nurtures the relationship between architecture and nature.

About the lecturers
Maki Onishi

Born in 1983. Graduated from Kyoto University in 2006. Completed her master’s degree at the University of Tokyo in 2008. Co-director of onishimaki + hyakudayuki / o+h since 2008. Lecturer at Kyoto University since 2016 and Professor at Yokohama National University Y-GSA since 2022.

Yuki Hyakuda

Born in 1982. Graduated from Kyoto University in 2006. Completed his master’s degree at Kyoto University in 2008. Co-director of onishimaki + hyakudayuki / o+h since 2008. Worked at Toyo Ito & Associates from 2009 to 2014. Lecturer at Yokohama National University since 2017.

Their representative works include Shelter Inclusive Place Copal (Yamagata, 2022), Good Job! Center KASHIBA (Nara, 2016), Double Helix House (Tokyo, 2011), among others. They have won the AIJ Prize 2023 (Built Work Division) and the BCS Prize.

Schedule

16.45 Doors open
17.00 Program start
18.40 Apero (light drinks and snacks)
19.15 Program end

Venue

Shibura House （Google Map）

Naomi Pollock: Exceptional Japanese Houses from 1945 to the Present - Lecture
2024-11-14 18:30 - 20:30 (Asia/Tokyo) | マナトレーディング㈱ 東京ショールーム, 1 Chome−26−9, Nakameguro Okura Bldg., 4F, Kamimeguro, Tokyo, 153-0051, Japan
Naomi Pollock, FAIA: Exceptional Japanese Houses from 1945 to the Present
Join us on November 14 for a lecture by Naomi Pollock, FAIA titles, “Exceptional Japanese Houses from 1945 to the Present.”
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DUE TO VENUE REQUEST, THE LECTURE WILL NOW START AT 18:30.
PLEASE TAKE ELEVATOR TO THE 5TH FLOOR.
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REGISTER HERE to attend in person at Manas Trading Showroom
REGISTER HERE FOR ONLINE WEBINAR

Lecture Description
The talk will describe the impact of social, technological, economic and historical developments on the evolution of the architect-designed, single family home in Japan. Examples of houses from the period spanning the 1940s to the 2020s will be used to illustrate these changes and how they impacted residential design. The selected houses will invite comparison between the building technologies and social organization of houses across the decades. Topics discussed will include the use of timber, steel and concrete construction as well as the changing family unit, separation of eating and sleeping, and the role of women.

Lecturer Info
Naomi Pollock writes about design and architecture in Japan. In addition to her articles, which have appeared in publications such as Dwell, Nikkei Asian Review, Wallpaper* and Architectural Record for whom she is a Contributing Editor, Pollock is the author of numerous books. These include The Japanese House Since 1945, Japanese Design Since 1945: A Complete Sourcebook and NUNO: Visionary Japanese Textiles which she edited. She holds Masters degrees in architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the University of Tokyo’s School of Engineering. In recognition of her contributions as a journalist and critic, Pollock was invited into the College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects in 2018.

1 LU Pending
Learning Objective 1
Explore the innovation and unique qualities of Japanese houses from 1940’s to 2020’s.
Learning Objective 2
Describe how changes in family structure, especially the role of women, impact residential design in Japan.
Learning Objective 3
Compare how construction materials impacted single family homes in japan in the last 80 years.
Learning Objective 4
Compare issues of design of residential homes in Japan and US during this period.

Schedule
18:45 Venue open
19.00 Lecture + QA
20.15 Apero start
21.00 End program

End of the Year Party - AIAJ Bonenkai
2024-12-13 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Bonenkai is this Friday, Dec 13 in Aoyama!
Members – please let us know you are coming by registering HERE!
This event is open to:

Members
Board and committee members’s guests.
AIAJ invited guests

See you there!

AIA Japan AGM/Board Meeting
2025-01-30 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Join Zoom Meeting from this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82731332957?pwd=[REDACTED]

Yasutaka Yoshimura: MANGARCHITECTURE - Absence of an Architect | Gallery Ma Exhibit Tour
2025-02-22 10:00 - 12:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | TOTO GALLERY · MA, Minamiaoyama, 1 Chome−24−3 TOTO乃木坂ビル, Minato City, Tokyo, 107-0062, Japan
Register here via Peatix:
https://aiaj250222.peatix.com/
Exhibit Description from Gallery Ma Website
Since the early days of his architectural activities, Yasutaka Yoshimura has strived to establish various relationships between spontaneous movements, such as people’s behavior, and different social conditions, such as social systems and situations so that architecture can serve as the bridge between the two.
He is exploring new ways of dwelling and living in the depopulating society Japan will face from now on. For example, with “Fukumasu Base” (2016), he covered a wooden structure with a ready-made tent warehouse to realize a childcare support facility where children can spend their time freely in a spacious open-plan space. With “Home2Go#001″(2019), he considered architecture as something between “immovable property” and “movable property” and imagined a “semi-movable property architecture” where people can choose where to live without being bound by the land. With “Takigahara Chicken Village” (2021), he envisioned an animal welfare society where humans and animals can lead happy lives together.What would happen if the architect’s authorship became “absent?” Yoshimura asks this question through this exhibition, using his work as reference material to further advance his exploration of the extensibility of architecture in today’s society.
In this exhibition, seven of Yoshimura’s projects are depicted as seven different stories by different manga artists to explore new interpretations of architecture. The world of manga has developed in a particularly unique way among two-dimensional pictorial expressions and has become a familiar part of our daily lives. What is depicted when manga and architecture meet and architecture leaves the architect’s hands? We invite everyone to discover what the collaboration of architecture and manga will create.
Exhibitor Profile – Yasutaka Yoshimura
Born in 1972 in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. He received a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, in 1995 and a master’s degree from Waseda University in 1997. From 1999 to 2001 he worked at MVRDV (Netherlands) under the Overseas Study Program for Artists of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. He founded Yasutaka Yoshimura Architects Inc. in 2005. He was a professor by special appointment at Meiji University from 2013 to 2018, and is currently a professor at Waseda University.
He has received the Yoshioka Prize (2006), the Asia Design Award (2009), the Good Design Award Special Prize (2010), the House Award Gold Prize (2010), the JCD Design Award Grand Prix (2011), the Annual Prize of AIJ (2011, 2014, 2018), the AP Award (2014), the WADA Award (2016), and the Grand Prize of ADAN (2018). His written works include Super Legal Buildings (Shokokusha, 2006), EX-CONTAINER (Graphic-sha, 2008), and Behaviors and Protocols (LIXIL Publishing, 2012).
Register here via Peatix:
https://aiaj250222.peatix.com/

AIA Leadership Summit 2025
2025-02-24 - 2025-02-26 | Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H Street, NW, Washington, DC, DC, 20006, United States
AIA Leadership Summit 2025 is the premier advocacy and leadership training event for AIA chapter leaders. The annual event is always one of AIA’s best attended leadership events—offering attendees a unique platform to engage in critical policy discussions with lawmakers while enhancing their leadership skills.
AIALS 2025 is happening February 24–26, 2025, at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. This is your opportunity to connect with—and learn from—over 700 AIA members, volunteer leaders, and chapter executives from across the nation. Over three days, you’ll learn how to maximize your leadership potential, connect advocacy outreach with leadership for better outcomes, and apply best practices in association management.
This year’s event highlights include:

Emmy-nominated host, writer, and podcaster Baratunde Thurston will explore the four pillars of “How to Citizen”: participation, relationship-building, understanding power, and valuing the collective for the common good
Capitol Hill visits with members of Congress from your state to influence policy
Networking and community with hundreds of like-minded peers
20 Expert-led sessions on advocacy, leadership, and association management
Insights on the latest policy developments to influence the legislative process

Register Today!

2025 AIA International Spring Conference
2025-03-20 15:30 - 2025-03-22 22:30 (Asia/Tokyo)
Join us for a 3-day virtual conference on how architects around the world are innovating to shape the future of the built environment!
Register Today!

About this event

Dates: Thursday 20 March – Saturday 22 March 2025
Cost: FREE (for AIA members and Non-members)
Total CES: Estimated 15 LUs for AIA Members (tbc)
See our Spring Conference Program page to learn more about the individual events on offer!
Event Description
Architecture continues to push boundaries, redefine expectations, and inspire through innovation. Trailblazing Architecture highlights the groundbreaking ideas, transformative technologies, and pioneering approaches shaping the future of our built environment.
From sustainable design solutions to adaptive reuse, and from advanced technologies to equity-driven practices, architects are leading the way in addressing complex global challenges. This conference aims to spotlight the diverse ways professionals worldwide are reshaping our industry, imagining new possibilities, and influencing a brighter future for all.
Join us for a global discussion on how architects are embracing bold strategies to redefine the limits of design and construction!
This 3-day virtual conference will bring you lectures, panel discussions, building tours and more from around the world. Conference sessions will be hosted by the 7 International Chapters in Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, the Middle East, Shanghai, and the United Kingdom, the International Sections in Latin America, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Taipei and more of our members worldwide!
Attendance is free and open to all, whether you are an AIA member or not. This year, registrants can choose to add a donation to support our work. As a non-profit organization, all funds raised will go directly towards ongoing AIA International initiatives, including the delivery of the Spring Conference.
Sessions will be available on demand following the conference day. AIA members can receive CES credits for participating live, or for watching on demand.
We are thrilled to bring you an array of speakers who in are helping to move the profession forward. They include Chris Lepine, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects, Heath May FAIA, Partner and Executive Vice President at HKS, James Richärd, FAIA of Richard Kennedy Architects and Sir David Adjaye.

BOOK TALK: The Making of The Critical House
2025-03-27 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Lutron Asuka Co., Ltd., 1 Chome−1−1 Shin-Aoyama Bldg. West 14F, Minamiaoyama, 東京都, 107-0062, Japan
A lecture and discussion exploring the research and editorial process behind the book “The Critical House: Words of 20 Contemporary Architects (Shokokusha, 2024). See description below!
Doors open at 6:45pm. Events starts at 7:00pm. Light refreshments will be provided afterwards!

In-Person: Register here via Peatix
Call-in remotely via Zoom: Zoom Link

Event Description:
This lecture will explore the research and editorial process behind The Critical House: The Words of 20 Contemporary Architects (Shokokusha, 2024). The newly released book, entitled in Japanese 住宅は、批評する, “Houses Criticize,” reflects on the post-WWII concept of “criticality” in the architecture of Japanese houses and its evolving role since the turn of the 21st century.How did criticality become a precondition for the design of a single-family house? What sparked the turn away from it? The Critical House unpacks the initial debates within the architecture scene of the 1990s at the juncture between the “critical” and “post-critical” eras.
This change in spirit was encapsulated by architect Toyo Ito’s own position over two decades: In the context of postwar societal overhaul in the 1970’s Ito stated, “For me, to design is to criticize.” At that time, architects were embroiled in both designing houses as a mode of critique and also in deploying critical discourse to strategically position these built works, maneuvering as if waging war on an intellectual battlefield.
By the 1990’s this ethos of criticality in design was called into question, exemplified by Ito’s essay subtitled, “Is a House Without Criticality Possible?” (1998). This shift in attitude reflects a broader inquiry into the evolving relationship between housing, contemporary architecture, and society at large.
Discussions of criticality have waned in recent years, but what have replaced them?
This book was born out of a concern that architectural discourse has lost its theoretical foundations—foundations essential to understanding the discipline’s role in creative practice and society today. But through the making of this book, speaking candidly and casually with a young generation of practitioners, a vibrant if more subtle form of criticality in contemporary practice has revealed itself.

— The Editors
Speaker Profiles

Mohammad Eimar
Eimar is an architect leading design projects at KKAA (Kengo Kuma and Associates). He obtained degrees from the University of Jordan (BSc, 2012) and Tokyo Tech (MEng, 2019) through MEXT scholarship. His work critically engages with architecture and research.

Masaru Otsuka
Otsuka is an architect and researcher serving as an Assistant Professor at Institute of Science Tokyo. He obtained degrees from Tokyo Tech (BEng, 2012; MEng, 2016) and the Mendrisio Academy of Architecture (MArch, 2015). He has received multiple awards, including the Good Design Award (2021).

Koshiro Ogura
Ogura is an architect and researcher focusing on architectural drawings and archival materials. He obtained degrees in architecture from Tokyo Tech (BEng, 2019; MEng, 2021) and was an Academic Guest at ETH Zürich (2022-2023). He is currently working on the Kazuo Shinohara retrospective at TOTO Gallery MA.

Ebisu Beer & Sketch Nite!
2025-03-28 19:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | PUB TAP+, 1 Chome−15−2 アパルトマンイトウ 101, Shibuya, Ebisunishi, 東京都, 150-0021, Japan
Ebisu Beer & Sketch Nite!
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

AIA Japan’s Beer & Sketch Nite is back!
It’s another chance to meet fellow AIA Japan members and connect! No formalities, no agenda—just architects, beer, and questionable doodles. Buy your own drinks and food. Show up when you want, leave when you want. See you at PUB TAP+ in Ebisu!

Evening Lecture - Balázs Bognár @ Meiji University
2025-04-17 19:00 - 20:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Meiji University, Surugadai Campus, Global Front Building, 16F Lecture Room, 1-1 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0062, Japan
Evening Lecture: Balázs Bognár – Place-Time ContinuumDate: April 17, 2025Time: 19:00 JSTLocation: 16F Lecture Room, Surugadai Campus Global Front, Meiji UniversityLanguage: EnglishOpen to the Public
Join Meiji University’s International Program in Architecture and Urban Design (I-AUD) for an evening lecture by Balázs Bognár, AIA Japan President and Partner at Kengo Kuma and Associates, entitled “Place-Time Continuum”.

2025 AIA Japan Board Meeting #2
2025-04-24 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Kengo Kuma & Associates, Aoyama Tower2 Chome-24-15 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo, 107-0062, Japan
Location:
Kengo Kuma & Associates Offices
Aoyama Tower 16th Floor
2 Chome-24-15 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062

Zoom link:
Time: Apr 24, 2025 07:00 Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81307211660?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 813 0721 1660
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Description:
AIA Japan board members will gather at the upcoming board meeting to discuss key organizational matters, leadership and committee updates, strategic planning, and planning for upcoming events. This is a great opportunity for all members to engage in decision-making to help shape the future direction of AIA Japan. Agenda will be released prior to meeting. This meeting will be held in person with an option to attend virtually via zoom.

Connect & Discover: Materials Lecture + Mixer
2025-04-25 18:30 - 20:30 (Asia/Tokyo) | Cosentino Showroom, イノックス青山 6 Chome-4-14 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo, 107-0062, Japan
REGISTER HERE!

Join AIA Japan and Cosentino for an evening of connection, conversation, and material inspiration. We’ll kick things off with a presentation introducing Ultracompact Surfaces (UCS)—a high-performance material redefining possibilities in architecture and design.
Then, stay for wine, snacks, and the chance to meet the Cosentino team, mingle with fellow architects and designers, and grow your network. Whether you’re curious about new materials or just looking to connect, we would love to see you there!
This event will give AIA-CES credits!

AIA International in Japan - Azabudai Hills: A New Urban Vision
2025-04-26 16:00 - 20:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, Ground Lobby, 1 Chome-3-1 Azabudai, Minato City, Tokyo, 106-0041, Japan
We invite you to join us for an exclusive event all about Azabudai Hills, featuring a tour, a panel discussion and social time!
When: Saturday 26 April 2025 @ 03:00-07:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 16:00-20:00 (Japan Standard Time)
Where: Azabudai Hills, Tokyo
Cost: Free of charge for all (including AIA and non-AIA members)
We have a choice of programs on offer:
Program 1 – Azabudai Hills Tour (Limited to 120 people)
Program 2 – Panel Presentation & Social Gathering (Limited to 120 people)
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Register for one or both events HERE!
Registration opens 3/24/2025 for AIA non-leadership members!
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You may choose to participate in one or both activities. The number of participants is limited for each program and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Event Description
Participants will be split into English-speaking and Japanese-speaking groups for a guided tour led by Midori Omori, Executive at Mori Building, alongside her team.
Following this, a panel presentation and discussion will be held, featuring Naomi Sato, the current President of the Japan Institute of Architects, who will present on the Tokyo International Forum. Kenzo Nakakoji from Mori Building will provide insights into Azabudai Hills, showcasing the latest developments in Tokyo from the developer’s perspective. Additionally, the CEO of North Glass will offer a technical viewpoint on the project. After the presentations, there will be a panel discussion where each speaker will delve deeper into their respective projects and share further insights. The event will conclude with a two-hour social gathering at Hills House, offering ample time for networking and interaction, along with food and beverages.
Presenters
JIA President Naomi Sato
Mori Building Executive Midori Omori
Mori Building Project Planning & Design Manager Kenzo Nakakoji
North Glass CEO Paul Gao
Host: AIA International Vice-President / President- Elect Segene Park
Moderator: AIA International Adjunct Director / Silas Chiow
Program 1: Azabudai Hills Tour

Meeting point: Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, Ground Lobby
1 Chome-3-1 Azabudai, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0041
https://www.azabudai-hills.com/
16:00: Tour in English & Japanese (60 minutes)

Hosted by Mori Building and North Glass, featuring Mori Building Executive Midori Omori and North Glass CEO Paul Gao.
Participants will be divided into English-speaking and Japanese-speaking groups.
Each group will be required to download a smartphone application (further details will be shared later).

Program 2: Panel Presentation & Social Gathering
Meeting point: Hills Tower Plaza 4F, 33rd Floor
https://www.hillshouse.jp/
17:00: Panel Presentation in English (45 minutes), featuring:

Tokyo International Forum (AIA Award-winning project) – Presented by JIA President Naomi Sato.
Azabudai Hills – Presented by Mori Building Kenzo Nakakoji.
Latest glass façade technology – Presented by Paul Gao, CEO of North Glass, and a specialist in glass manufacturing engineering.

17:30: Panel Discussion in English (15 minutes). The session will conclude with a brief discussion of:

Their projects.
Glass façade innovations.
Emerging trends and technologies.
Design aspects.

18:00: Social Gathering at Hills House (120 minutes)

Takes place after the panel presentation.
Hosted at Hills House on the 33rd floor.

Link here for Speaker Bios and more information!
Hope to see you there!

Ebisu Beer & Sketch Nite!
2025-05-15 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Ebisu Beer & Sketch Nite!
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

AIA Japan’s Beer & Sketch Nite is back!
It’s another chance to meet fellow AIA Japan members (and friends) and connect! No formalities, no agenda—just architects, beer, and questionable doodles. Buy your own drinks and food. Show up when you want, leave when you want. See you at PUB TAP+ in Ebisu!

Project Tour: Kiyoshi Seike House, “My Home I.”
2025-05-24 10:00 - 11:30 (Asia/Tokyo) | Kiyoshi Seike House, Higashiyukigaya, 3 Chome−8−2 デザインシステム, Ota City, Tokyo, 145-0065, Japan
Join AIA Japan for a special guided tour of the Kiyoshi Seike House, a landmark of postwar Japanese modernism. This private tour offers a rare opportunity to experience Seike’s influential design firsthand and learn more about his lasting impact on architecture. Please see below for more project information! Learning credits are available.
Register via the Peatix ap now!
Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025Time: 10:00 AMMeeting Point Address: 〒145-0065 Tokyo, Ota City, Higashiyukigaya, 3 Chome−8−2 デザインシステムGuest Limit: Maximum attendance limited to 24. Visits will be broken into 2 equal groups of maximum 12 visitors. The first group at 10:00 am and the 2nd group at 10:45 am. Preference will be given to AIA Japan members.
Tour Leaders: Yuri Yagi, the eldest daughter of Kiyoshi Seike and her husband Koji Yagi, an architect and professor emeritus of TiTech (Tokyo Institute of Technology)
Public Transit: Ikegami line to Senzokuike station. The time schedule: Senzokuike 9:45→Ebara Hospital 9:58, for the next group 10:37→10:41
Parking: Available in the basement of nearby Ebara Hospital.
Project Information:
Constructed in 1954, this small house holds immense significance in Japanese architectural history. It pioneered a revolutionary approach to modern living, seamlessly integrating traditional Japanese aesthetics with European modernism and industrial materials. Serving as an early example of fusing diverse constraints within a limited space, the house also experimented with the societal shift towards modern family life in Japan.
During the post-war era, new democratic and women’s rights were profoundly transforming the Japanese family. The house’s compact size of 50 square meters, and one-room design were deliberate choices to adapt to the economic constraints of the time and emphasize the unity of the family, while combining materials such as industrial concrete, iron, and glass with traditional exterior sliding doors and screens. Notably, the movable tatami, a radical reimagining of traditional Japanese architecture, embraced the flexibility of traditional living practices. It served as a versatile surface, accommodating various activities from office work and play to sleeping and even outdoor enjoyment. The floating cabinet, steel truss, and movable tatami collectively provided whimsical commentary on modern functionalism.
The Seike House exemplifies a broader cultural shift in how Japanese individuals approached modern living and design. During a visit to Japan, Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus, requested to visit the house and subsequently Seike accepted an invitation to the US to work together. This collaboration marked a pivotal moment in the exchange between European modernism and Japanese architecture. Seike’s work continues to resonate with architects to this day.
This event builds upon recent AIA Japan events, including Toshiko Kinoshita’s “The Work of Heritage Houses Trust,” Naomi Pollock’s “Exceptional Japanese Houses from 1945 to the Present,” and “BOOK TALK: The Making of The Critical House.”

Evening Lecture: Moreau Kusunoki – Resilience through Design in Museums
2025-05-27 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Gensler Tokyo, METLIFE Aoyama Building 5th Floor 2-11-16 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, 東京都, 107-0062, Japan
Register here!
Join AIA Japan for an evening lecture by Nicolas Moreau and Hiroko Kusunoki of Moreau Kusunoki, the acclaimed Paris-based architecture studio. Their talk, Resilience through Design in Museums, will share insights from their international practice and reflect on the evolving role of museums in contemporary society, and it will be followed by a Q&A and networking with drinks. CES credits pending. This will be an in-person and hybrid event.
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025Time: 7:00 PMLocation: Gensler Tokyo officeIn-Person: Please register via our Peatix app here!
In-person tickets are currently only open for AIA and AIA Associate Members. We will open up to non-members closer to the event date if spots are available.

For online:
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88149983489?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 881 4998 3489
Passcode: [REDACTED]
This session, led by Nicolas Moreau and Hiroko Kusunoki, directors of Moreau Kusunoki, will explore the importance of resilience in the design and programming of cultural institutions to ensure they meet the evolving needs of future generations.
The discussion will center on several key projects: the Guggenheim Helsinki winning proposal (2015); Powerhouse Parramatta in Sydney—one of the world’s most significant upcoming museum projects, set to open in 2026; and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Europe’s largest modern art museum, slated for reopening in 2030.
Guided by Moreau Kusunoki’s design philosophy—rooted in the Japanese concept of ‘in-between’ or mâ, where fluid, interstitial spaces allow life and meaning to emerge naturally between defined structures—their architectural approach fosters freedom of appropriation, encourages human interaction, and prioritizes the physical experience, all while maintaining adaptability.
About Powerhouse Parramatta
Powerhouse Parramatta was unanimously selected as the winning proposal in the international design competition organized by MAAS and the State of New South Wales in 2019, among 74 teams and 529 individual firms.The project is being developed by an international team that includes Genton (local architect, Sydney), Arup (structure, MEP, façade, acoustics, sustainability), McGregor Coxall (landscape), Jun Sato Structural Engineers (exoskeleton concept), DEP (kinetic structure), and L’Observatoire International (architectural lighting).
About Moreau Kusunoki

Moreau Kusunoki is an architectural practice founded in Paris in 2011 by Hiroko Kusunoki and Nicolas Moreau. Their design approach is defined by a fusion of Japanese spatial sensitivity and Western urban thought. This duality is present in every project they undertake. Their architecture oscillates between reason and intuition, generating undefined spaces known as “ma”—areas that provide room for personal interpretation and new meanings to emerge through user interaction. The studio has received international acclaim through numerous competition wins, including the Guggenheim Helsinki proposal, Sciences Po’s new urban campus in Paris, the National Lighthouse Museum in Brest, and Powerhouse Parramatta. In 2024, they were appointed to lead the cultural renovation of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, a project scheduled for completion in 2030.

AIA International in Japan: Osaka World Expo Event
2025-05-29 - 2025-05-30 | Yumeshimanaka, Konohana-ku, Osaka
AIA International in Japan: Osaka World Expo Event📅 May 29–30, 2025 | ⏰ 09:00–19:00 JST📍 German Pavilion, 2025 Osaka World Expo, Osaka, Japan
You’re invited to a unique, in-person experience at the 2025 Osaka World Expo hosted by AIA International in Japan.
Theme: “Building the Future: Sustainable Connections”Slogan: “Designing Tomorrow, Together”
Join us for a day of guided pavilion tours, a panel discussion on design, sustainability and global collaboration, and valuable networking with peers in design, architecture, and planning.
🎓 CES Credits: Up to 10 LU/HSW (Pending Approval)💵 Cost: Free for all participants (AIA and non-AIA)
Registration is now open!

Special thanks to our sponsors and supporters:Schüco | NorthGlass | SHIBO | AHK Japan | KIA | ASC | Roca | Laufen | DOW | AHEC | Informa | and more.

AIA25 Conference on Architecture & Design - Boston
2025-06-04 - 2025-06-07
AIA Conference on Architecture & Design® 2025 in Boston
The premier AEC industry event
AIA25 is more than just a conference; it’s an invitation to inspiration. Anchored by four days of immersive learning, inspiring keynotes, architect-led tours, networking events, and the industry’s largest expo, AIA25 will spark real-time innovation, discovery, and engagement.
It’s everything you need, in one location:

High-profile speakers to inspire your next project
Industry-best CE & the opportunity to earn your HSWs for the year!
Exclusive tours of Boston architecture & firms
Unparalleled networking with peers & experts
Largest expo in our industry featuring 600 brands

For registration info please see the website here.

Gallery Ma Exhibition Tour: Kazuo Shinohara's "Inscribe Eternity in Space―A centennial exhibition with 100 questions"
2025-06-21 09:30 - 11:30 (Asia/Tokyo) | TOTO GALLERY · MA, Minamiaoyama, 1 Chome−24−3 TOTO乃木坂ビル, Minato City, Tokyo, 107-0062, Japan
Join AIA Japan for a special guided tour of Gallery Ma’s latest exhibition honoring the centennial of Kazuo Shinohara, one of Japan’s most influential architects. Inscribe Eternity in Space explores Shinohara’s lasting impact through 100 provocative questions about architecture and space. This event is free and open to all. CES credits available for AIA Members.
Registration here (via Peatix app)!
Gallery Ma Tour: Kazuo Shinohara: Inscribe Eternity in Space – A Centennial Exhibition with 100 Questions
Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025Time: 9:30 AMLocation: Gallery Ma, Tokyo
After event: After the tour, we invite you to please join us to continue the conversation afterwards over coffee and casual brunch (paid by guests) nearby!

Gallery Ma Exhibit Description:
TOTO GALLERY・MA announces new exhibition “Kazuo Shinohara: Inscribe Eternity in Space – a centennial exhibition with 100 questions” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of architect Kazuo Shinohara.
Kazuo Shinohara (1925–2006) studied under Kiyoshi Seike (1918–2005) at Tokyo Institute of Technology (now Institute of Science Tokyo). Upon graduating, Shinohara began his career as a professor architect at the same university. He set up Shinohara Atelier upon his retirement from teaching, with its base in his own house and studio, House in Yokohama (1985), where he continued to produce designs and theoretical writings. Many architects who came under his influence now stand at the forefront of the global architectural scene, including members of the so-called “Shinohara School” that consisted of Itsuko Hasegawa, Toyo Ito, and Kazunari Sakamoto.
Kazuo Shinohara proclaimed that “a house is a work of art” and devoted a great deal of energy to the design of small houses. Shinohara’s houses are now undergoing a period of re-assessment in Japan and overseas, praised as one of the pinnacles of Japan’s achievements in residential design. Published together with this proclamation was one of his early masterpieces, Umbrella House (1961), which was relocated and resurrected in 2022 on the campus of Vitra in Weil am Rhein, Germany, just outside of Basel. House in White (1966), House of Earth (1966), and Tanikawa House (1974) have all been preserved through renovation or even relocation efforts.
For this exhibition, we welcome guest curators Shin-ichi Okuyama, Momoyo Kaijima, and Seng Kuan as our collaborators. Focusing on the theme of “eternity,” the exhibition reconsiders the image of Shinohara as an architect who continuously asked himself questions throughout his life.
The exhibition features original objects such as the drawings, models, sketches, as well as furniture produced by Shinohara Laboratory. These exhibits are framed through 100 questions extracted from Shinohara writings, following the self-described trajectory from the First Style to the Fourth Style and revealing new insights into both his professional activities and Shinohara as an individual.
The exhibition further includes sketches of Shinohara’s unfinished work House in Tateshina (2006, study), which anticipates an eventual Fifth Style.
We hope this exhibition will help convey to future generations Shinohara’s legacy in space making and architectural discourse.
Biographies:

Seng Kuan is an architectural historian and theorist. He is Project Associate Professor and Director of the International Architectural Education Platform at the University of Tokyo and Lecturer in Architecture at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. He has written extensively on Japan’s postwar architectural culture, including the “land, water, and sky” trilogy on the Metabolists; the role of structural engineering in modern Japanese architecture; and books on Tange Kenzō and Shinohara Kazuo. As Chief Editorial Advisor to a+u, Seng oversees the editorial agenda of the Tokyo-based journal. He is also a member of the Planning and Management Committee of TOTO Gallery MA in Tokyo.
Exhibitions play a major role in Seng’s research methodology. His curatorial work includes Utopia Across Scales: Highlights from the Kenzō Tange Archive (GSD 2009); Metabolism: City of the Future (Mori Art Museum, 2011); and Shinohara Kazuo (Kemper Art Museum 2014; ETH Zürich 2016; GSD 2019). His research projects have been recognized with major grants from Graham Foundation and the Japan Foundation.

Koshiro Ogura is an architect and researcher focusing on architectural drawings and archival materials. He obtained degrees in architecture from Tokyo Tech (BEng, 2019; MEng, 2021) and was an Academic Guest at ETH Zürich (2022-2023). He is an assistant curator of the “Kazuo Shinohara Inscribe Eternity in Space A centennial exhibition with 100 questions” at TOTO Gallery MA.
