(1) Office Policy
(2) "Happy-ism" Design Concept

(1)
Office Policy

(2)
"Happy-ism" Design Concept

Beauty or functionality?

In the beginning, we are troubled by the question between design priority and functional priority. Should we design inconveniently for the sake of beauty, or make a building ugly for the sake of convenience? In the end we reach the conclusion that a building which is both functional and beautiful makes good architecture.

In practice, major company general contractors designing divisions and major organizational offices are generally excellent design offices。They produce many works which are beautiful and at the same time functional. I myself have once worked in a designing division of a major company general contractor and believe that good architecture is both functional and beautiful.

However, beauty and function alone cannot explain the strong impression we feel when a building's name is mentioned. In addition, it does not seem necessary to bring up good design or good function when describing good architecture. So what exactly is good architecture? Thinking about it again, it is a very difficult question.

Creating architecture that brings happiness

First, when it comes to good architecture, it is necessary to consider what we are designing for .Having given a lot of thought, I reached the simple conclusion that architecture is created for human happiness. No matter how beautiful or functional a space is, whether in a house or an office, if it brings displeasure to the occupants, is not good architecture.

So then how do we make people happy? This is an even more difficult question.

In the end, my conclusion was: "No matter how wealthy one can be, no one can ever be happy when they are alone". I believe people are happy when they can rely on each other mutually, and agree with one another dearly; this is the condition I became aware of. While a high salary is desirable, company life becomes unhappy when staffs and supervisors are not on good terms. Even a famous celebrity with many fans would be unhappy if he was on bad terms with his wife. On the other hand, if some anonymous pauper, who has a harsh, low paying job, has a significant other who he a can become a mutual couple with, wouldn't he still be considered happy? Happy-ism...

Designing happiness, stimulation and engagement

Has architecture ever brought human happiness? This may sound like a fairytale, but it is as tackling as lifework.

In the end, through trial and error, a new concept was formed by three keywords: happiness, stimulation, and engagement. First, happiness and stimulation are essential elements in spaces where people live. A dark and gloomy space will probably not provoke much communication. As we wake up with the suddenly flooding brightness of the morning sun, as we are moved by the beauty of the evening sun, and as spring buds fresh green leaves on trees in full prime with new vigour; we can say the experience of happiness is brought into the spatial design. A good human relationship cannot be born in a life without happiness or stimulation. I thought it was necessary for each person to live happily in order to develop good human relationship.

On second thought, it would be nice to create a place for communication, where positive engagements are made. By adjusting one face, there is a great chance of making good communication, which in turn makes good human relationships. As "happiness," "simulation," and "engagement" do not posses any particular form, it must be programmed into the building. As we begin to create a building which makes people happy, the movement of "happy-ism" arises.

Is an intelligent building really a good building?

In order to apply the theme of "happy-ism" into our designs, we disregarded the wall in our office layout. Back during the bubble zenith period, there was a song called "Can you work for 24 hours?" which became very popular in Japan. During that period, businesses operated tremendously every night until very late. Without a doubt, business demands a space where 24 hours of work can be done. I myself have once worked in a designing division of a major general contractor in a high rise building which was known to be an intelligent building at that time.

An intelligent building is a high-tech building which provides comfortable temperature, humidity and brightness through computer control 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The firm I worked for was in a high tech building. Each department had sensors which numerically judged comfort level in order to control air conditioning, as well as sensors which moved blinds automatically based on the brightness of the atmosphere. No matter what time of day or year it was, the same comfortable environment was fixed, hence it should have been comfortable working there; however many employees were troubled by autonomous nervous malfunction, insomnia, etc. I myself had become sleepless.

Based on my personal experience, I wanted to create a space where I can be aware of the season, the weather, the sun's altitude etc. as opposed to the popular intelligent building. My idea is not one any supervisor or client can understand easily. In the past, offices were factories for intellectual productive activity, and workers were only thought of as productive machines. As a result, instead of using contrasting colours which create eye fatigue, a coat of grey tone was applied to the walls and the desks, and plain air was eliminated as much as possible since the brightness of the desk surfaces cannot be controlled. As a result, even though everyone had potential intelligence, the inorganic, high-tech intelligent buildings were relied on.

The Hayama office beneath the sun and the sky

After my experience, I had a great desire to carry out my independence, so I started my own office in Hayama. I wanted to test out my concept of "happy-ism" so I disregarded the spatial office design theory, and drew forth large openings and a stair well, which made a bright work place. In the morning the mail gets checked under the morning sun, and in the evening the dyed red clouds are filled with rapture. As the day pours in, even during the dead winter, we can open the window to relieve ourselves from the heat. During the night while it is dim, work operates productively. While the screen on the computer turns vague with the sunlight, while putting on or taking off a sweater, or while opening or closing the window, the day is very busy. Even without a clock, our bodies can feel the flow of time each day. In addition, our five senses are sharpened gradually as we feel the change of everyday life: as the sun angle alters and the seasonal changes occur.

Happy-ism of ten people and ten colours

I do not only care about the everyday life in my office, but in every piece of work I design, I propose happy-ism. As a result, the customers bring various forms of happy-ism of ten people and ten colours.

In the town of Bunkyo, I designed a residence called "House of Happy-ism". There the bath is on the second floor, and the corridor passes the draft of the living room. Between the children's room and dining room, and between the dining room to the living room, there is a interference of spaces allowing the family presence to be felt from anywhere in the house. In addition, the planting in the courtyard can be enjoyed from any room; and being in the city centre, the human body can sense the change between the four seasons can be.

"Namimachian" located in Kamakura, has a living room which also serves as a large corridor. This space, like a large reception hall, allows children and adults to enjoy the exchange of conversation.

"La Renaissance de Sankado" is a tenant building where different industries enter and blend. In order to draw communication out of the people of different industries living together, the draft and comfort of the sunlight, coming through the skylight, turns the central circular stairway into a communication space.

"A House With A Studio", in Nakano, forms a happy family circle by having a music studio in the centre. I also included into the theme of "happy-ism" the software of playing and living for the dwelling beings. We have also put together a space where the person in use becomes happy by finding true meaning.

If you can approve "happy-ism" it is now your turn!
Let's see if we can create a space of "happy-ism" together.