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Makoto Sei Watanabe

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Makoto Sei Watanabe
K Museum, Ariake, Tokyo
Born1952
Yokohama, Japan
NationalityJapan
Alma materYokohama National University Graduate School
OccupationArchitect
WorksAoyama Technical College
K-Museum, etc.
AwardsASLA Professional Award
AIJ Prize, etc.

An architect who possesses both the imaginative creativity in his works, and the logical orientation as seen in algorithm research.

He has been experimenting with programmatic generation of architecture since the 1990s[1], and has already been developing and implementing AI since 2001.[2]

His creative activities encompass not only architectural design but also research, artwork, drawing, organizing international competitions[3], and even writing a novel[4].

Biography

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In junior high school, he belonged to the biology club.[5] In high school, he aspired to study biology at university, but on the recommendation of his biology teacher, he chose architecture as a field that combines both science and art. [6]
He graduated from Yokohama National University Graduate School in 1976, worked at Arata Isozaki Atelier, and then started MAKOTO SEI WATANABE / ARCHITECTS' OFFICE [7] in 1984.

His first actual work, "AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE" [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] (1990), which was the winning entry of the international competition, attracted a great deal of attention for its bold design.

However, his design direction was not singular, and another series in a different direction, a project called "JELLY FISH" [15] [16] [17] (1990), which could be described as minimalism, was announced at the same time as "AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE".

Concurrently, he explored theoretical aspects and, based on his interest in biology, conducted research that viewed cities and architecture not from the perspective of conventional 'design' but from that of 'generation'.

He then released "INDUCTION DESIGN" [1] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] (1994) as a method of generating architecture and cities using computer programs by algorithmizing the conditions to be solved. This method, later termed “ALGOrithmic Design” [25] , culminated in "SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI" [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] (2000).
Subsequently, he developed the AI program “program of FLOW” [2] (2001) based on this method and used it to complete "Tsukuba Express / Kashiwanoha-Campus Station" [33] [34] (2004).
Its successor AI program, "pBM: project Beautiful Mind" [35] [36] , is currently under development.

One other notable feature of Watanabe's imagination is his orientation toward fluids, movement, and floating. This is manifested in the novel “Ryutai-Toshi (Liquid City)”[37], the floating sensation of  "JELLY FISH", the swaying of "FIBER WAVE", the fountain glass of "NY Transparent Toilet", the ripples of "TOKYO HOUSE", and the sense of speed at "K-MUSEUM" / "ShinMinamata Station".

In addition, he has received numerous awards both in Japan and abroad, including for his artwork “FIBER WAVE” [38] [39] (1995). He has also authored many books, and served as a university professor at home and abroad.
(His major Works, Competitions, Research, Teaching professions, Awards, and Publications are listed in the latter section.)

Some reviews by experts

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Aoyama Technical College, Tokyo
AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
WEB FRAME of Subway Station Iidabashi: A mesh-formed structure generated by a computer program that solves the necessary conditions is deployed in the underground space.
WEB FRAME of Subway Station Iidabashi: A mesh-formed structure generated by a computer program that solves the necessary conditions is deployed in the underground space.
WING of Subway Station Iidabashi: Preliminary trial model of the 'right member in the right place' structure being possible when the structural optimization program is completed.
WING of Subway Station Iidabashi: Preliminary trial model of the 'right member in the right place' structure being possible when the structural optimization program is completed.

INDUCTION DESIGN
"Subway Station Iidabashi (the first realised version of Induction Design) is the first work of architecture in the world generated by the computer program." [40]
(Antonino Saggio, Professor, Faculty of Architecture, University of Rome)

"The attempt of 'INDUCTION DESIGN' is a grand 'Analysis-by-Synthesis' to understand and generate the city as a complex system.  Also, I believe that this challenge will provide us with many suggestions for the profound question, 'What is a living system?' " [41]
(Kazuyuki Aihara, Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences/Complex Science and Engineering, The University of Tokyo)

"Moreover, Watanabe, by simulating the natural laws of growth through computing, ignores the compositional paradigm—an obsolete straitjacket that still confines architecture today." [42]
(Christian GIRARD, Ecole Nationale Supérieur d'Architecture de Paris Malaquais, Digital Knowledge)

AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
"At such a time, a challenging architecture that dares to go against the flow has emerged, with a presence that is not an overstatement to call it arrogance, which is the privilege of only the truly eccentric, not the fake existence." [43]
(Kobun Ito, Architectural Criticism, Editor-in-Chief of  “SD” magazine)

SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI
" When you actually experience the station space, you will realize the architects' ability to integrate and complete this work, on a level other than its visual impact. Acquired through persistent collaboration with civil engineering, this subway station space has a quality that goes beyond the surface. "
(Reasons for the JIA award, as stated by the judges)

" An ingenious proposal for a public facility that tends to be stuck in place due to customary constraints. “
(Akiko Takahashi, Architect, JIA New Designer Award Jury Critique)

JELLY FISH
"A utopia so utopian that it seems unthinkable." [17] 
(Kijo Rokkaku, architect)

"The properties of one react to those of the other, by the intermediary of light: liquid at the sharp edges, which seem to have been cut directly from the ocean; evanescent solid, like a piece of molded atmosphere." [16] 
(FRAC Centre-Val de Loire)

ORE-X
" The overall intention of the work comes at you strongly. "
(Tadao Ando, architect)

Other

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K-MUSEUM
In Harutoshi Fukui's novel “ Op. Rose Dust ”[44] 2006, a group of terrorists hacks and reverses the vacuum dust collection system of the Rinkai Fukutoshin Kyodo Trench (utility tunnel) and sends bombs (not garbage) to various parts of the city in an attempt to destroy the entire city. At the beginning of the afterword of the paperback edition, Shinya Hashizume mentions “ K-MUSEUM ”[45] and the planning philosophy of this city, and describes the intention of the utility tunnel. (Although “ K-MUSEUM ” is described there as planned as a pavilion for the World City Expo,  it was actually completed as a permanent facility in 1996, after the cancellation of the Expo in 1995.)

The “ K-MUSEUM ” was closed for reasons of declining attendance and remained intact for 23 years before being dismantled in December 2024. [46]
" The ' K-MUSEUM ' was originally a facility that was combined with a tour of the main body of the utility tunnel (communal ditch). Still, since that crucial tour of the utility tunnel was discontinued, the small-scale ' K-MUSEUM ' cannot function on its own. Therefore, it is only natural that the number of visitors to the museum has decreased.  The ' K-MUSEUM ' could have been newly used as one of the places for urban tourism in Tokyo ", said Watanabe.[47]

Intelligent CAD
An Intelligent CAD with the ability to generate a design that solves a given set of conditions, as in " INDUCTION DESIGN ", will emerge, Watanabe said in 2002.
" Intelligent CAD&CG should eventually emerge--the emergence of iCAD. You can call it agent CAD, just like an agent goes into an Internet search engine. "[48]
As in the “ KeiRiki (Form-Force) ” program[49] implemented in the “ ShinMinamata MON ”[50] 2003, programs for structural high adaptation (generating forms that are rational in terms of structural mechanics) have been commercialized later under names such as generative design, topology optimization, etc.
(It was in 2018, 15 years after “ KeiRiki (Form-Force) ”, that generative design was implemented in AutoCAD's Fusion 360.[51]

Cupola of Flame
The “ Cupola of Flame ” [52][53]1971, which received the highest score in an on-day design competition for all second-to-fourth-year students when Watanabe was a second-year undergraduate student at the university, was a proposal for a canopy using a hot air balloon. Half a century later, in 2024, an Olympic torch stand with a similar idea appeared in Paris.[54]

Transparent Toilet
" N.Y. Transparent Toilet "[55][56][57][58][59], a 1993 design awarded in an international competition, was a pioneering concept for a transparent toilet featuring light-controlled glass.

Angels
He created numerous drawings, both hand-drawn and AI-collaborated, and in his newer works, angels are often depicted floating in the air.  However, every angel is in the back view.[60]

Major Works

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Title Year City Region Note
AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE  building-1[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] 1990 Tokyo First Prize / International Competition
N.Y. Transparent Toilet[55][56][57][58] 1993 New York USA Awarded / International Competition  
Mura-no Terrace (Village Terrace)[61] 1995 Gifu
FIBER WAVE series[62][63][39] 1995- Gifu, Tokyo, Graz, Vigo, etc. Austria, Spain, etc. Artwork
ATLAS[64] 1996 Tokyo
K-MUSEUM[45] 1996 Tokyo
SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI[26][29][27][28][30][65][31][32] 2000 Tokyo First Prize / Proposal
Shinkansen / ShinMinamata Station[66][67] 2004 Kumamoto
ShinMinamata MON[50][49][68] 2005 Kumamoto
Tsukuba Express / Kashiwanoha-Campus Station[33][34] 2004 Chiba
Tsukuba Express / Kashiwa-Tanaka Station[69] 2004 Chiba
RIBBON[70] 2005 Graz Austria Museum exhibition design
Shanghai House[71][72] 2005 Shanghai China
TOKYO HOUSE[73][74] 2006 Tokyo
RIBBONs / open-air theater[75] 2009 Taichung Taiwan
WEB FRAME -Ⅱ[76] 2011 Tokyo

Major Design Competitions

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Title Year Award Region
International Design Competition for AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE building-1[8][11][12][13][14][10][9] 1988 First Prize
Design Competition for Osaka Pref. Peace Museum[77] 1989 Awarded
Design Proposal for Tokyo Metropolitan Subway Line-12 Station[26][27][28][30][65][31][32] 1991 First Prize
Design Proposal for Hyogo Performing Arts Center[78][79] 1992 Awarded
Urban Outhouse Design Competition[55][56][57][59][58] 1993 Awarded USA
ROEBLING GATEWAY PARK DESIGN COMPETITION 1995 Awarded USA
International Design Competition for Milan 2001[80][81] 2000 Awarded

Major Research and Development

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Title Year Executed Architectural Work (Title of the program applied)
INDUCTION DESIGN[1][19][18][22][23][20][21][24] 1994--
ALGORITHMIC DESIGN[25] 2005
2000 SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI (WEB FRAME)[82]
2011 (WEB FRAME II)[76]
2005 ShinMinamata MON (KeiRiki program[49][68])
2006 TOKYO HOUSE (Environmental Color Program)[83]
AItect series (Design Support AI Program Development)[84] 2001--
AItect - Subsidized Research: MITOU
(programs for the next generation IT innovation leaders) by IPA
'Sensory-sensitive Architecture and Urbanism Generation Program'
AI program: program of FLOW[2] 		2001 - 2003
2004 TX Kashiwanoha-Campus Station  (program of FLOW )[33][34]
AItect - Subsidized Research: CREST
(Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology) by JST
'Bayesian Optimization in Architectural Design'
AI program: pBM = project Beautiful Mind 
(Joint Research with the University of Tokyo)[35][36] 		2017- 2023--
Organizer :   ALGODeQ: ALGOrithmic Design Quest international programming competition[85] 2013 - 2014
Organizer :  AQS: Algorithmic design Quest international Symposium[86] 2015

Professorships

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University Position Period
Tamkang University (Taiwan) Faculty of Engineering Department of Architecture Chair Professor 2005-2010
Okayama Prefectural University Faculty of Design, Department of Architecture Professor 2010-2013
Tokyo City University Faculty of Urban Life Studies Professor 2013-2017

Major Awards

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Title　 Year Award Work Region
SD Review[87] 1988,1989,1990 Asakura Award, etc. JELLY FISH, etc.
HYLAR International Award 1994 Award AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE USA
JCD Design Award [88] 1996 Award Mura-no Terrace
Good Design Award [89] 1996 Award Mura-no Terrace
Chubu Architectural Award[90] 1996 Award Mura-no Terrace
IALD International Lighting Design Awards 1997 Award FIBER WAVE (K-MUSEUM) USA
IES Illumination Awards 1997 Award FIBER WAVE (K-MUSEUM) USA
JCD Design Award [91] 1997 Award K-MUSEUM
SDA Award [92] 1997 SDA Grand Prize K-MUSEUM
ASLA Professional Awards 1997 Award K-MUSEUM USA
Waterfront Award 1997 Award Mura-no Terrace USA
The Japan Federation of Architects and Building Engineers Associations Award[93] 1997 Award Mura-no Terrace
Urban Landscape Award by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) 1997 Award FIBER WAVE (K-MUSEUM)
iF Design Award[39] 1998 Top 10 Awards FIBER WAVE Germany
iF Design Award 1998 Award N.Y. Transparent Toilet Germany
The Marble Architectural Awards (MAA) 1998 First Prize K-MUSEUM Italy
Good Design Award[94] 2001 Gold Award SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI (Selected stations)
JIA (Japan Institute of Architects) New Designer Award[95] 2001 Award SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI
Architectural Institute of Japan Award[96] 2002 Award SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI
1st Environment and Equipment Design Award[97] 2002 Grand Prize SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI
The Institute of Electrical Installation Engineers of Japan Award [98] 2005 Award SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI
Public Building Award [67] 2008 Special Award and Excellence Award Shinkansen / ShinMinamata Station (Architectural Design and Surrounding Area Design Direction)

Major Publications

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Title　 Year Type Publisher Region
Kentiku-Ka (Architect ) 1992 Essay Jitsugyo-no-nihon-sha
Ryutai-Toshi (Liquid City) [37] 1998 Novel Jitsugyo-no-nihon-sha
MAKOTO SEI WATANABE conceiving the city 1998 Monograph l'ARCAEDIZIONI Italy
INDUCTION DESIGN  (English edition) 2002 Theory + Work Birkhäuser Switzerland/Germany
Kentiku wa yawarakai kagaku ni tikazuku  (Evolutionary Design) 2002 Monograph + Theory Kentiku-shiryo-kenkyu-sha
INDUCTION DESIGN  (Italian edition) 2004 Theory + Work Testo & Immagine Italy
makoto sei watanabe 2007 Monograph EDIL STAMPA Italy
ALGORITHMIC DESIGN（collaboration: the Architectural Institute of Japan） 2009 Theory + Work kajima-publishing
Computer v. Human Brain  (the responsible editor/l'ARCA special issue 271) 2011 Theory + Work l'ARCAEDIZIONI Italy
ALGOrithmic Design EXecution and logic  (ALGODEX) 2012 Theory + Work + Program Maruzen-publishing
Machina x Mind International Architecture Workshop MaMiUU 2021 Education Tamkang University Taiwan

References

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  1. ^ a b c "INDUCTION DESIGN".
  2. ^ a b c "MITOU iPedia".
  3. ^ "ALGODeQ: ALGOrithmic Design Quest international programming competition".
  4. ^ "Ryutai-Toshi (Liquid City)".
  5. ^ Kentiku-Ka ( Architect ). Jitsugyo-no-nihon-sha (JAPAN),1992, pp. 41-44.
  6. ^ Kentiku-Ka ( Architect ). Jitsugyo-no-nihon-sha (JAPAN), 1992, pp. 46-47.
  7. ^ "MAKOTO SEI WATANABE / ARCHITECTS' OFFICE".
  8. ^ a b c "AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE".
  9. ^ a b c "FRAC Centre-Val de Loire, 'Makoto Sei WATANABE'".
  10. ^ a b c Modo, Editoriale Modo, Milano, ' The Rule Breaker ', Dec. 1990, pp.18-19.
  11. ^ a b c Shinkenchiku Journal, 6 June 1990, cover & pp. 227-237.
  12. ^ a b c Yomiuri Shimbun,11 June 1990, evening edition.
  13. ^ a b c FOCUS, SHINCHOSHA Publishing, 6 July 1990, pp. 42-43, SPA!, FUSOSHA Publishing, Kobunsha, 1 Jan. 1991, FlASH, 18 Dec. 1990, cover, and other publications.
  14. ^ a b c l'ARCA, L'ARCAEDIZIONI, Jan. 1991, pp. 45-53, and other publications.
  15. ^ "JELLY FISH".
  16. ^ a b "FRAC Centre-Val de Loire, Makoto Sei WATANABE".
  17. ^ a b SD, Kajima Institute Publishing, Dec. 1990, p. 12.
  18. ^ a b Summary of Academic Lectures, Architectural Institute of Japan, On Demand City: planning of functions, using computer programs, 5283, 1997, pp.563-564.
  19. ^ a b Nikkei architecture, Nikkei Business Publications, 10 Oct. 1994, pp. 154-157.
  20. ^ a b Mall, Convenience Store, and Soho: Urban populism brought about by digitalization, NTT Publishing, Dec. 2002, p. 63.
  21. ^ a b Christian GIRARD,Ecole Nationale Supérieur d'Architecture de Paris Malaquais, Digital Knowledge, Emeritus.
  22. ^ a b INDUCTION DESIGN, English edition, Birkhäuser, Italian edition, Testo & Immagine, 2002, preface.
  23. ^ a b Kentiku wa yawarakai kagaku ni tikazuku ( Evolutionary Design ), Kentikushiryo-kenkyu-sha, 2002, preface.
  24. ^ a b Kentiku wa yawarakai kagaku ni tikazuku ( Evolutionary Design ), Kentikushiryo-kenkyu-sha, 2002, p. 82.
  25. ^ a b Journal of Architecture and Building Science, Is Thinking catching up with Technology: the start of algorithmic design, Architectural Institute of Japan, AIJ Prize for works, Oct. 2005, pp. 14-18.
  26. ^ a b c "SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI".
  27. ^ a b c Journal of Architecture and Building Science, Architectural Institute of Japan, AIJ Prize for works, Aug. 2002, p.65.
  28. ^ a b c The Daily Engineering & Construction News, Nikkan Kensetsu Kogyo Shinbun, JIA Newcomer Award, 30 July 2001, front page.
  29. ^ a b INDUCTION DESIGN, Antonino Saggio, English edition: Birkhäuser, Italian edition: Testo & Immagine, 2002, preface.
  30. ^ a b c Nikkei architecture, Nikkei Business Publications, 25 Dec. 2020, pp.29-30.
  31. ^ a b c The Asahi Shimbun, 25 Nov. 2000, front page, evening edition.
  32. ^ a b c a+a, architecture and art, China Institute of Architecture, ed. Mar. 2010, vol.30, pp. 65-71.
  33. ^ a b c "Tsukuba Express / Kashiwanoha-Campus Station".
  34. ^ a b c Architectural Institute of Japan, Information Systems Technology Committee, 38th Symposium on Information Systems Applications and Technology, Abstracts, ' Can AI make designs? ', Dec. 2015, pp. 313-316.
  35. ^ a b "pBM project Beautiful Mind".
  36. ^ a b "Interaction × A.I. JST CREST HCI for Machine Learning Symposium".
  37. ^ a b "Ryutai-Toshi (Liquid City) Free posted: Chapter 1: "Glass Is Always Flowing / A Room of Amber Light" & Chapter 6: "Tower in the Sea / Moon of the Light"".
  38. ^ "FIBER WAVE series".
  39. ^ a b c "iF Design Award - FIBER WAVE".
  40. ^ INDUCTION DESIGN, English edition: Birkhäuser, Italian edition: Testo & Immagine, 2002, preface.
  41. ^ Kentiku wa yawarakai kagaku ni tikazuku ( Evolutionary Design ), Kentiku-shiryo-kenkyu-sha, 2002, preface.
  42. ^ makoto sei watanabe, EDIL STAMPA (Italy), commentary, 2007, pp. 38-46.
  43. ^ The Yomiuri Shimbun, 11 June 1990, evening edition.
  44. ^ "Op. Rose Dust", Bungeishunju, Feb. 2009, paperback edition, afterword.
  45. ^ a b "K-MUSEUM".
  46. ^ The Nikkei, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, 21 Oct. 2024, electronic edition, 22 Oct. 2024, paper edition (morning edition).
  47. ^ "Farewell K-MUSEUM".
  48. ^ Kentiku wa yawarakai kagaku ni tikazuku ( Evolutionary Design ), Kentiku-shiryo-kenkyu-sha (JAPAN), 2002, p. 82.
  49. ^ a b c "KeiRiki series".
  50. ^ a b "ShinMinamata MON".
  51. ^ "It's here! Generative design Technology Makes its Commercial Debut in Fusion 360 Ultimate、Rob Cohee、2018-04-24".
  52. ^ "Cupola of Flame".
  53. ^ Kentiku-Ka ( Architect ). Jitsugyo-no-nihon-sha (JAPAN),1992, pp. 54-59.
  54. ^ "Summer_Olympics_and_Paralympics_cauldron".
  55. ^ a b c "N.Y. Transparent Toilet".
  56. ^ a b c New York Magazine, 34022.
  57. ^ a b c Shinkenchiku Journal, Urban Out House / the NAKED TOILET, Oct. 1993, pp. 278-279.
  58. ^ a b c The Mainichi, 29 Nov. 1993, evening edition.
  59. ^ a b Nikkei architecture, Nikkei Business Publications, 11 Oct. 1993, pp.166-167.
  60. ^ "Drawings".
  61. ^ "Mura-no Terrace (Village Terrace)".
  62. ^ "FIBER WAVE series".
  63. ^ "FIBER WAVE".
  64. ^ "ATLAS".
  65. ^ a b Monthly Architecture Technology, Architectural Engineering Research, May 2020, pp.106-107.
  66. ^ "Shinkansen / ShinMinamata Station".
  67. ^ a b "Public Buildings Awards, The Public Buildings Association".
  68. ^ a b The Nikkei, 22 Nov. 2005, evening edition, front page.
  69. ^ "Tsukuba Express / Kashiwa-Tanaka Station".
  70. ^ "RIBBON".
  71. ^ "Shanghai House / INOUT".
  72. ^ "TOKYO HOUSE".
  73. ^ "TOKYO HOUSE".
  74. ^ "TOKYO HOUSE".
  75. ^ "RIBBONs / open air theater".
  76. ^ a b "WEB FRAME - Ⅱ".
  77. ^ SD, Kajima Institute Publishing, July 1990, pp. 52-53.
  78. ^ "Hyogo Prefectural Nishinomiya Culture Center".
  79. ^ Journal of Architecture and Building Science, Architectural Institute of Japan, CG and Model: Hyogo Performing Arts Center Selected Proposal April 1993, pp.12-13.
  80. ^ "LIGHTNING".
  81. ^ Shinkenchiku Journal, Makoto Sei Watanabe awarded in Milan 2001 International Competition, Mar. 2000.
  82. ^ "SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI".
  83. ^ "TOKYO HOUSE".
  84. ^ "AItect".
  85. ^ "ALGODeQ".
  86. ^ "AQS: Can AI make designs?".
  87. ^ SD, Kajima Institute Publishing, Dec. 1998,1989,1990.
  88. ^ "Design Chronology, JCD".
  89. ^ "GOOD DESIGN AWARD".
  90. ^ "Chubu Architectural Award".
  91. ^ "Design Chronology, JCD".
  92. ^ "History of SDA｜SDA (Sign Design Association of Japan)".
  93. ^ "The 12th Japan Federation of Architects & Building Engineers Association Award Winners List".
  94. ^ "GOOD DESIGN AWARD, G-Mark Library".
  95. ^ The Daily Engineering & Construction News, Nikkan Kensetsu Kogyo Shinbun, JIA Newcomer Award, 30 July 2001, front page.
  96. ^ Journal of Architecture and Building Science, Architectural Institute of Japan, AIJ Prize for works, Aug. 2002, p.65.
  97. ^ "The 1st Environmental and Equipment Design Award, The Architectural Equipment Integrated Association".
  98. ^ "IEE of Japan Award, The Institute of Electrical Installation Engineers of Japan".
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