Interviews with Katori archi + design associates
Designer profileDesigner Interview
31 July 2026
Architecture has fascinated me since childhood. Whenever I traveled with my family, I found myself paying more attention to buildings and cities than to tourist attractions. Over time, I realized that architecture is far more than the creation of buildings—it shapes the way people live, interact, and remember places.
After graduating from university, I spent nearly two decades at one of Japan's leading architectural design firms, where I worked on a wide range of projects, including residences, hotels, embassies, commercial facilities, and public buildings. Collaborating with talented architects, engineers, and master craftspeople taught me that architecture is never the achievement of a single individual; it is created through trust, dialogue, and shared expertise.
Today, as the founder of KATORI archi+design associates, I continue to pursue architecture that enriches everyday life, respects its context, and creates lasting value for future generations.
After graduating from university, I spent nearly two decades at one of Japan's leading architectural design firms, where I worked on a wide range of projects, including residences, hotels, embassies, commercial facilities, and public buildings. Collaborating with talented architects, engineers, and master craftspeople taught me that architecture is never the achievement of a single individual; it is created through trust, dialogue, and shared expertise.
Today, as the founder of KATORI archi+design associates, I continue to pursue architecture that enriches everyday life, respects its context, and creates lasting value for future generations.
KATORI archi+design associates was founded on a simple belief: architecture should improve people's lives while creating value that endures beyond its own time.
Our practice provides comprehensive architectural services, from planning and architectural design to interior design and construction supervision. By remaining involved throughout the entire process, we ensure that the original design vision is carefully realized while responding to the practical realities of construction.
We work on a diverse range of projects, including residences, hotels, commercial facilities, offices, and public buildings. Regardless of scale or budget, every project begins by understanding its people, its place, and its purpose.
Our practice provides comprehensive architectural services, from planning and architectural design to interior design and construction supervision. By remaining involved throughout the entire process, we ensure that the original design vision is carefully realized while responding to the practical realities of construction.
We work on a diverse range of projects, including residences, hotels, commercial facilities, offices, and public buildings. Regardless of scale or budget, every project begins by understanding its people, its place, and its purpose.
For me, design is the process of discovering the essence of a challenge and transforming it into meaningful experiences.
Design is not about creating objects; it is about creating meaning.
At its best, design quietly improves everyday life, strengthens human connections, and enriches the relationship between people and their surroundings. I believe architecture succeeds when people remember how a place made them feel rather than who designed it.
Design is not about creating objects; it is about creating meaning.
At its best, design quietly improves everyday life, strengthens human connections, and enriches the relationship between people and their surroundings. I believe architecture succeeds when people remember how a place made them feel rather than who designed it.
I enjoy designing projects that become meaningful parts of people's lives.
Whether it is a private residence, a hotel, a cultural institution, or a public building, I am most inspired by architecture that creates memorable experiences and strengthens the relationship between people and their environment.
Rather than focusing on a particular building type, I seek projects that leave a lasting positive impact on both individuals and communities.
Whether it is a private residence, a hotel, a cultural institution, or a public building, I am most inspired by architecture that creates memorable experiences and strengthens the relationship between people and their environment.
Rather than focusing on a particular building type, I seek projects that leave a lasting positive impact on both individuals and communities.
Each project represents a different chapter of my professional journey, making it impossible to choose only one.
The projects that remain closest to my heart are those that successfully balance history, functionality, and contemporary needs while respecting the identity of their surroundings.
I am especially proud of architecture that quietly becomes part of everyday life—places that continue to serve people naturally and gracefully for many years after completion.
The projects that remain closest to my heart are those that successfully balance history, functionality, and contemporary needs while respecting the identity of their surroundings.
I am especially proud of architecture that quietly becomes part of everyday life—places that continue to serve people naturally and gracefully for many years after completion.
One of my earliest professional experiences involved contributing to architectural projects within a collaborative design team.
Those projects taught me that architecture begins with listening rather than drawing. Understanding clients, respecting technical expertise, and working closely with contractors and craftspeople were lessons that shaped my approach from the very beginning.
Looking back, those experiences established the values that continue to guide my practice today: humility, collaboration, and careful attention to detail.
Those projects taught me that architecture begins with listening rather than drawing. Understanding clients, respecting technical expertise, and working closely with contractors and craftspeople were lessons that shaped my approach from the very beginning.
Looking back, those experiences established the values that continue to guide my practice today: humility, collaboration, and careful attention to detail.
Wood has always been my favorite material.
It possesses warmth, authenticity, and a timeless beauty that evolves with age. Every piece carries its own character, reminding us that imperfection can also be a form of beauty.
Alongside traditional materials, I actively embrace contemporary technologies such as BIM, digital visualization, and advanced construction techniques. I believe the most meaningful architecture emerges when craftsmanship and innovation complement one another.
It possesses warmth, authenticity, and a timeless beauty that evolves with age. Every piece carries its own character, reminding us that imperfection can also be a form of beauty.
Alongside traditional materials, I actively embrace contemporary technologies such as BIM, digital visualization, and advanced construction techniques. I believe the most meaningful architecture emerges when craftsmanship and innovation complement one another.
I feel most creative when I am observing the world rather than trying to create something immediately.
Walking through historic cities, visiting construction sites, talking with craftspeople, traveling, or simply spending time in nature often leads to unexpected ideas.
I believe inspiration is discovered, not invented. Creativity grows through curiosity, careful observation, and a lifelong willingness to learn.
Walking through historic cities, visiting construction sites, talking with craftspeople, traveling, or simply spending time in nature often leads to unexpected ideas.
I believe inspiration is discovered, not invented. Creativity grows through curiosity, careful observation, and a lifelong willingness to learn.
People always come first.
Every design decision should contribute to improving the experience of those who will use the space. I pay particular attention to natural light, spatial proportions, circulation, materiality, comfort, and the relationship between architecture and its surroundings.
Beauty is important, but beauty without purpose cannot create lasting architecture.
Every design decision should contribute to improving the experience of those who will use the space. I pay particular attention to natural light, spatial proportions, circulation, materiality, comfort, and the relationship between architecture and its surroundings.
Beauty is important, but beauty without purpose cannot create lasting architecture.
Designing architecture is both exciting and humbling.
Every project begins with possibility and gradually becomes a shared vision through collaboration with clients, consultants, contractors, and craftspeople.
At the same time, I feel a profound sense of responsibility. Buildings remain part of society for decades, sometimes centuries, influencing countless lives.
Every project reminds me that architecture is a privilege as much as it is a responsibility, and that belief continues to inspire everything I design.
Every project begins with possibility and gradually becomes a shared vision through collaboration with clients, consultants, contractors, and craftspeople.
At the same time, I feel a profound sense of responsibility. Buildings remain part of society for decades, sometimes centuries, influencing countless lives.
Every project reminds me that architecture is a privilege as much as it is a responsibility, and that belief continues to inspire everything I design.
Seeing a design become reality is always deeply rewarding. However, the greatest satisfaction comes not from the completion of the building itself, but from witnessing people genuinely enjoying the space.
When guests relax in a hotel, families create memories in a home, or communities gather in a public space, architecture begins its true life. Buildings are not completed when construction ends—they are completed when people make them part of their everyday lives.
For me, that is the most meaningful moment in every project.
When guests relax in a hotel, families create memories in a home, or communities gather in a public space, architecture begins its true life. Buildings are not completed when construction ends—they are completed when people make them part of their everyday lives.
For me, that is the most meaningful moment in every project.
A successful design continues to create value long after it is completed.
Visual beauty may attract attention, but lasting architecture earns affection through everyday use. A successful project responds to its users, respects its surroundings, adapts over time, and continues to enrich people's lives for many years.
People rarely remember every design detail, but they always remember how a place made them feel. Creating those lasting memories is the true measure of successful design.
Visual beauty may attract attention, but lasting architecture earns affection through everyday use. A successful project responds to its users, respects its surroundings, adapts over time, and continues to enrich people's lives for many years.
People rarely remember every design detail, but they always remember how a place made them feel. Creating those lasting memories is the true measure of successful design.
The first question I ask is:
"Why does this design need to exist?"
Every successful design begins with a meaningful purpose. Before considering aesthetics, I evaluate whether the project truly responds to its users, solves the right problems, and contributes positively to its environment.
Only after those foundations are established do I consider its composition, proportions, materials, craftsmanship, functionality, and long-term sustainability.
"Why does this design need to exist?"
Every successful design begins with a meaningful purpose. Before considering aesthetics, I evaluate whether the project truly responds to its users, solves the right problems, and contributes positively to its environment.
Only after those foundations are established do I consider its composition, proportions, materials, craftsmanship, functionality, and long-term sustainability.
Architects shape not only buildings but also communities, cultures, and the future.
Every project has social, cultural, and environmental consequences that extend far beyond its completion. Designers therefore have a responsibility to create architecture that is sustainable, durable, and respectful of both nature and local identity.
To me, sustainability is not only about reducing environmental impact. It is about creating places that people will continue to value, maintain, and cherish for generations.
Every project has social, cultural, and environmental consequences that extend far beyond its completion. Designers therefore have a responsibility to create architecture that is sustainable, durable, and respectful of both nature and local identity.
To me, sustainability is not only about reducing environmental impact. It is about creating places that people will continue to value, maintain, and cherish for generations.
Design is evolving beyond aesthetics to become a discipline that addresses complex social, environmental, and technological challenges.
Artificial intelligence, digital tools, and advanced construction methods are transforming the way architects work. However, technology can never replace empathy, cultural understanding, creativity, or human judgment.
I believe the future of architecture lies in harmonizing innovation with timeless values—combining technology with craftsmanship, sustainability, and a genuine understanding of people.
Artificial intelligence, digital tools, and advanced construction methods are transforming the way architects work. However, technology can never replace empathy, cultural understanding, creativity, or human judgment.
I believe the future of architecture lies in harmonizing innovation with timeless values—combining technology with craftsmanship, sustainability, and a genuine understanding of people.
Rather than exhibiting architecture in galleries, I prefer to think of completed buildings as permanent exhibitions.
Each project becomes part of everyday life, allowing people to experience architecture naturally through living, working, gathering, and celebrating.
In the future, I would welcome opportunities to exhibit internationally, particularly if they allow me to share Japanese architectural culture, craftsmanship, and design philosophy with a wider audience.
Each project becomes part of everyday life, allowing people to experience architecture naturally through living, working, gathering, and celebrating.
In the future, I would welcome opportunities to exhibit internationally, particularly if they allow me to share Japanese architectural culture, craftsmanship, and design philosophy with a wider audience.
Inspiration begins with observation.
Nature, historic architecture, cities, traditional craftsmanship, art, music, travel, and conversations with people all influence the way I think. Construction sites are equally inspiring, where collaboration with skilled craftspeople often reveals possibilities that cannot be discovered through drawings alone.
I believe inspiration is discovered rather than invented. Curiosity, careful observation, and continuous learning are the true sources of creativity.
Nature, historic architecture, cities, traditional craftsmanship, art, music, travel, and conversations with people all influence the way I think. Construction sites are equally inspiring, where collaboration with skilled craftspeople often reveals possibilities that cannot be discovered through drawings alone.
I believe inspiration is discovered rather than invented. Curiosity, careful observation, and continuous learning are the true sources of creativity.
I do not pursue a recognizable personal style.
Instead, I pursue architecture that naturally belongs to its place and continues to gain meaning over time.
Every project begins with understanding its history, culture, landscape, climate, and the people who will use it. Through careful attention to light, materials, proportion, and movement, I strive to create spaces that feel calm, timeless, and deeply connected to everyday life.
Architecture should never dominate its surroundings. It should quietly enrich them.
Instead, I pursue architecture that naturally belongs to its place and continues to gain meaning over time.
Every project begins with understanding its history, culture, landscape, climate, and the people who will use it. Through careful attention to light, materials, proportion, and movement, I strive to create spaces that feel calm, timeless, and deeply connected to everyday life.
Architecture should never dominate its surroundings. It should quietly enrich them.
I live and practice architecture in Japan, where centuries of craftsmanship and a deep respect for nature continue to shape the built environment.
Japanese culture has profoundly influenced my work. The appreciation for simplicity, careful attention to detail, natural materials, and the changing seasons all find their way into my architecture.
Designing in Japan also means responding to earthquakes, typhoons, and rigorous building regulations. While these conditions present challenges, they also encourage innovation and result in architecture that is resilient, refined, and built to endure.
Japanese culture has profoundly influenced my work. The appreciation for simplicity, careful attention to detail, natural materials, and the changing seasons all find their way into my architecture.
Designing in Japan also means responding to earthquakes, typhoons, and rigorous building regulations. While these conditions present challenges, they also encourage innovation and result in architecture that is resilient, refined, and built to endure.
I see every project as a partnership founded on trust.
Before discussing design solutions, I take time to understand the client's philosophy, vision, operational goals, and long-term aspirations. Only then can architecture truly support their objectives.
Throughout the project, I maintain close communication with clients, consultants, contractors, and craftspeople. The best architecture is never created by one individual—it is the result of shared knowledge, mutual respect, and a common commitment to excellence.
Before discussing design solutions, I take time to understand the client's philosophy, vision, operational goals, and long-term aspirations. Only then can architecture truly support their objectives.
Throughout the project, I maintain close communication with clients, consultants, contractors, and craftspeople. The best architecture is never created by one individual—it is the result of shared knowledge, mutual respect, and a common commitment to excellence.
I encourage companies to look beyond a designer's portfolio.
Beautiful images reveal the final outcome, but they do not show the thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving behind the project. A good designer listens carefully, understands complex challenges, communicates openly, and transforms ideas into architecture that creates lasting value.
Architecture is a long-term investment. Choosing a designer should be based not only on style, but also on trust, shared values, and the ability to build a strong collaborative relationship.
Beautiful images reveal the final outcome, but they do not show the thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving behind the project. A good designer listens carefully, understands complex challenges, communicates openly, and transforms ideas into architecture that creates lasting value.
Architecture is a long-term investment. Choosing a designer should be based not only on style, but also on trust, shared values, and the ability to build a strong collaborative relationship.
Every project begins with listening.
Before drawing the first line, I study the site, its history, its cultural context, and the people who will experience the space. Only by understanding these elements can I identify the true challenges behind a project.
From there, the design develops through sketches, research, dialogue, and continuous refinement. Even during construction, I remain closely involved, working alongside contractors and craftspeople to ensure that every detail reflects the original design intent.
For me, design is never a sequence of decisions—it is a continuous dialogue between people, place, and architecture.
Before drawing the first line, I study the site, its history, its cultural context, and the people who will experience the space. Only by understanding these elements can I identify the true challenges behind a project.
From there, the design develops through sketches, research, dialogue, and continuous refinement. Even during construction, I remain closely involved, working alongside contractors and craftspeople to ensure that every detail reflects the original design intent.
For me, design is never a sequence of decisions—it is a continuous dialogue between people, place, and architecture.
I appreciate objects that become more beautiful with time.
Among my favorites are a solid wood dining table that has matured over many years, handcrafted ceramic tableware, carefully designed lighting, a fountain pen that I use for sketching ideas, and my collection of architecture and art books.
Although these objects are simple, they remind me every day that thoughtful design quietly enriches everyday life.
Among my favorites are a solid wood dining table that has matured over many years, handcrafted ceramic tableware, carefully designed lighting, a fountain pen that I use for sketching ideas, and my collection of architecture and art books.
Although these objects are simple, they remind me every day that thoughtful design quietly enriches everyday life.
No two days are ever the same, and that is one of the reasons I enjoy being an architect.
A typical day may include designing in the studio, meeting clients, visiting construction sites, reviewing drawings, discussing details with contractors, and solving new challenges as projects evolve.
Outside work, I enjoy observing architecture, walking through cities, reading, sketching, traveling, and spending time with my family. Every experience becomes part of the creative process, and every day offers an opportunity to learn something new.
A typical day may include designing in the studio, meeting clients, visiting construction sites, reviewing drawings, discussing details with contractors, and solving new challenges as projects evolve.
Outside work, I enjoy observing architecture, walking through cities, reading, sketching, traveling, and spending time with my family. Every experience becomes part of the creative process, and every day offers an opportunity to learn something new.
Stay curious throughout your career.
Visit real buildings instead of relying only on photographs. Observe how people use spaces, how light changes throughout the day, and how materials age over time. These are lessons that cannot be learned through digital media alone.
Learn from everyone around you—clients, engineers, contractors, and craftspeople. Architecture is fundamentally collaborative, and every project offers an opportunity to grow.
Most importantly, do not chase trends. Build your own philosophy, remain true to your values, and design with sincerity.
A designer's greatest asset is not talent, but curiosity.
Visit real buildings instead of relying only on photographs. Observe how people use spaces, how light changes throughout the day, and how materials age over time. These are lessons that cannot be learned through digital media alone.
Learn from everyone around you—clients, engineers, contractors, and craftspeople. Architecture is fundamentally collaborative, and every project offers an opportunity to grow.
Most importantly, do not chase trends. Build your own philosophy, remain true to your values, and design with sincerity.
A designer's greatest asset is not talent, but curiosity.
One of the greatest rewards of being an architect is the opportunity to create places that become part of people's lives. Knowing that a building may continue to serve a community for decades—or even generations—is both inspiring and deeply fulfilling.
At the same time, architecture carries tremendous responsibility. Every decision influences safety, functionality, sustainability, cost, and the quality of people's lives. It requires balancing creativity with practical realities while coordinating the expertise of many different professionals.
Although demanding, this responsibility is exactly what makes architecture such a meaningful profession. Every challenge presents an opportunity to create something that will continue to benefit society long into the future.
At the same time, architecture carries tremendous responsibility. Every decision influences safety, functionality, sustainability, cost, and the quality of people's lives. It requires balancing creativity with practical realities while coordinating the expertise of many different professionals.
Although demanding, this responsibility is exactly what makes architecture such a meaningful profession. Every challenge presents an opportunity to create something that will continue to benefit society long into the future.
My golden rule is simple:
Design for people—not for ego.
Architecture should never exist merely to express the designer's personality. Its purpose is to improve everyday life, support human activities, and create places where people feel comfortable, welcome, and inspired.
Whenever I make an important design decision, I ask myself one question:
"Will this improve people's lives?"
If the answer is yes, I know I am moving in the right direction.
Design for people—not for ego.
Architecture should never exist merely to express the designer's personality. Its purpose is to improve everyday life, support human activities, and create places where people feel comfortable, welcome, and inspired.
Whenever I make an important design decision, I ask myself one question:
"Will this improve people's lives?"
If the answer is yes, I know I am moving in the right direction.
Creativity is essential, but it is only the beginning.
I believe the most important qualities are observation, empathy, communication, and perseverance.
A designer must first understand before proposing solutions. Careful observation reveals opportunities that are not immediately visible, while empathy allows us to understand both practical needs and human emotions.
Equally important is communication. Architecture is realized through collaboration, and transforming ideas into reality requires trust among clients, consultants, contractors, and craftspeople.
The best architects are lifelong learners who never lose their curiosity.
I believe the most important qualities are observation, empathy, communication, and perseverance.
A designer must first understand before proposing solutions. Careful observation reveals opportunities that are not immediately visible, while empathy allows us to understand both practical needs and human emotions.
Equally important is communication. Architecture is realized through collaboration, and transforming ideas into reality requires trust among clients, consultants, contractors, and craftspeople.
The best architects are lifelong learners who never lose their curiosity.
Despite advances in digital technology, my most valuable design tool remains a simple pencil and sketchbook.
Sketching allows ideas to develop freely before they become drawings or digital models.
As projects evolve, I use CAD, BIM, 3D visualization software, material samples, and full-scale mock-ups to refine every aspect of the design. Beyond technology, my greatest sources of inspiration are architecture books, travel, historic buildings, construction sites, and conversations with experienced craftspeople.
Technology helps us design buildings. Experience teaches us how to create architecture.
Sketching allows ideas to develop freely before they become drawings or digital models.
As projects evolve, I use CAD, BIM, 3D visualization software, material samples, and full-scale mock-ups to refine every aspect of the design. Beyond technology, my greatest sources of inspiration are architecture books, travel, historic buildings, construction sites, and conversations with experienced craftspeople.
Technology helps us design buildings. Experience teaches us how to create architecture.
Architecture requires both creativity and discipline.
I organize each project by establishing clear priorities for every stage—from concept development and design coordination to construction supervision and final completion. Careful planning and open communication help prevent unnecessary problems while maintaining the quality of the design.
At the same time, I intentionally leave room for reflection. Some of the strongest ideas emerge after stepping away from the drawing and returning with fresh eyes.
I believe thoughtful architecture is not created by working faster, but by thinking more clearly.
I organize each project by establishing clear priorities for every stage—from concept development and design coordination to construction supervision and final completion. Careful planning and open communication help prevent unnecessary problems while maintaining the quality of the design.
At the same time, I intentionally leave room for reflection. Some of the strongest ideas emerge after stepping away from the drawing and returning with fresh eyes.
I believe thoughtful architecture is not created by working faster, but by thinking more clearly.
Wood is the material I feel most connected to.
It possesses warmth, authenticity, and a timeless beauty that evolves with age. Unlike many manufactured materials, wood records the passage of time, becoming richer in character through everyday use. Every piece is unique, reminding us that imperfection can also be beautiful.
I especially appreciate the way wood interacts with stone, steel, and glass. By combining traditional materials with contemporary construction methods, I strive to create architecture that feels both timeless and contemporary.
Wood reminds us that architecture, like people, becomes richer with time.
It possesses warmth, authenticity, and a timeless beauty that evolves with age. Unlike many manufactured materials, wood records the passage of time, becoming richer in character through everyday use. Every piece is unique, reminding us that imperfection can also be beautiful.
I especially appreciate the way wood interacts with stone, steel, and glass. By combining traditional materials with contemporary construction methods, I strive to create architecture that feels both timeless and contemporary.
Wood reminds us that architecture, like people, becomes richer with time.
Rather than having a single favorite color, I am inspired by the colors of nature.
The subtle tones of wood, stone, earth, water, and changing daylight create an atmosphere that no artificial palette can fully reproduce. These colors evolve throughout the day and across the seasons, giving architecture a quiet sense of life.
I believe color should support space rather than dominate it. When combined with natural light and carefully selected materials, even the simplest palette can create a rich and memorable experience.
The subtle tones of wood, stone, earth, water, and changing daylight create an atmosphere that no artificial palette can fully reproduce. These colors evolve throughout the day and across the seasons, giving architecture a quiet sense of life.
I believe color should support space rather than dominate it. When combined with natural light and carefully selected materials, even the simplest palette can create a rich and memorable experience.
A great day is one in which I know meaningful progress has been made.
It may be finding the right solution to a difficult design challenge, seeing construction move forward successfully, or receiving positive feedback from a client. These moments remind me that architecture is built through countless thoughtful decisions rather than one dramatic achievement.
Spending time with my family, discovering inspiring architecture, or simply observing everyday life also enriches my perspective.
Architecture advances one thoughtful decision at a time.
It may be finding the right solution to a difficult design challenge, seeing construction move forward successfully, or receiving positive feedback from a client. These moments remind me that architecture is built through countless thoughtful decisions rather than one dramatic achievement.
Spending time with my family, discovering inspiring architecture, or simply observing everyday life also enriches my perspective.
Architecture advances one thoughtful decision at a time.
My clients include private homeowners, hotel operators, commercial developers, corporations, and public organizations.
Although the scale and purpose of each project differ, they all share one common goal: creating architecture that delivers lasting value.
I especially appreciate working with clients who view architecture not simply as a building, but as an investment in people, culture, and the future. The most successful projects are always built upon mutual trust and a shared vision.
Although the scale and purpose of each project differ, they all share one common goal: creating architecture that delivers lasting value.
I especially appreciate working with clients who view architecture not simply as a building, but as an investment in people, culture, and the future. The most successful projects are always built upon mutual trust and a shared vision.
My ultimate goal is to create architecture that continues to enrich people's lives long after it has been completed.
Awards and recognition are meaningful milestones, but they are not the destination. What matters most is designing places that people continue to appreciate, preserve, and enjoy for generations.
If someone visits one of my buildings many years from now and feels that it still naturally belongs to its place, that would be the greatest reward of my career.
Awards and recognition are meaningful milestones, but they are not the destination. What matters most is designing places that people continue to appreciate, preserve, and enjoy for generations.
If someone visits one of my buildings many years from now and feels that it still naturally belongs to its place, that would be the greatest reward of my career.
Looking ahead, I hope to create architecture that connects local culture with a global perspective.
Japan has a remarkable architectural tradition rooted in craftsmanship, precision, and respect for nature. My goal is to reinterpret these timeless values through contemporary architecture and share them with an international audience.
I am particularly interested in designing hotels, cultural institutions, public buildings, and places where architecture brings people together and creates meaningful experiences.
I also hope my future work will contribute not only to individual projects but also to the cultural dialogue between countries.
Japan has a remarkable architectural tradition rooted in craftsmanship, precision, and respect for nature. My goal is to reinterpret these timeless values through contemporary architecture and share them with an international audience.
I am particularly interested in designing hotels, cultural institutions, public buildings, and places where architecture brings people together and creates meaningful experiences.
I also hope my future work will contribute not only to individual projects but also to the cultural dialogue between countries.
I do not wish to be remembered simply as an architect who designed beautiful buildings.
Instead, I hope to be remembered as someone who created places that people genuinely enjoyed using—places that became part of their daily lives and their memories.
If my architecture helps people feel comfortable, connected, and inspired, then I believe I have fulfilled my responsibility as an architect.
If the architecture remains meaningful after its designer is forgotten, I believe it has truly succeeded.
Instead, I hope to be remembered as someone who created places that people genuinely enjoyed using—places that became part of their daily lives and their memories.
If my architecture helps people feel comfortable, connected, and inspired, then I believe I have fulfilled my responsibility as an architect.
If the architecture remains meaningful after its designer is forgotten, I believe it has truly succeeded.
What distinguishes me is my holistic approach to architecture.
I remain actively involved throughout every stage of a project—from the initial concept and design development to construction supervision—ensuring that the original vision is faithfully carried through to completion.
Equally important is my commitment to collaboration. I believe the best architecture emerges when architects, clients, engineers, contractors, and craftspeople work together with mutual respect toward a shared goal.
Architecture succeeds when every discipline contributes to a shared vision.
I remain actively involved throughout every stage of a project—from the initial concept and design development to construction supervision—ensuring that the original vision is faithfully carried through to completion.
Equally important is my commitment to collaboration. I believe the best architecture emerges when architects, clients, engineers, contractors, and craftspeople work together with mutual respect toward a shared goal.
Architecture succeeds when every discipline contributes to a shared vision.
My ambition is to expand my architectural practice internationally while continuing to contribute to the built environment in Japan.
I look forward to collaborating with people from different cultures, learning from diverse perspectives, and creating architecture that reflects both Japanese craftsmanship and universal human values.
Regardless of where I work, my objective will remain the same: to design places that improve everyday life and continue serving people for generations.
Every new project is another opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute through architecture.
I look forward to collaborating with people from different cultures, learning from diverse perspectives, and creating architecture that reflects both Japanese craftsmanship and universal human values.
Regardless of where I work, my objective will remain the same: to design places that improve everyday life and continue serving people for generations.
Every new project is another opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute through architecture.
I believe architecture is far more than the creation of buildings.
Architecture is a stage where life unfolds.
The building itself is never the main character.
The people who live, work, celebrate, learn, and create memories within it are.
Receiving recognition from the A' Design Award is a tremendous honor, but I see it not as the conclusion of my journey. It is the beginning of a new chapter.
I will continue to design with curiosity, humility, and sincerity, creating architecture that connects people, places, and time.
That belief will continue to guide everything I design.
Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to continuing my journey of creating architecture that connects people, places, and time.
Architecture is a stage where life unfolds.
The building itself is never the main character.
The people who live, work, celebrate, learn, and create memories within it are.
Receiving recognition from the A' Design Award is a tremendous honor, but I see it not as the conclusion of my journey. It is the beginning of a new chapter.
I will continue to design with curiosity, humility, and sincerity, creating architecture that connects people, places, and time.
That belief will continue to guide everything I design.
Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to continuing my journey of creating architecture that connects people, places, and time.
Grand Interview
25 June 2026 · The Westin Miyako Kyoto Chapel Renovation
Our intention was not simply to renovate a wedding chapel, but to regenerate a place of blessing where visitors could gradually distance themselves from everyday life and enter a quieter state of mind. This idea became the foundation of what we call The Reborn Chapel.The wooden ceiling lattice developed from our study of light in Japanese landscapes and sacred places: filtered sunlight through trees, the calm illumination of temples and shrines, and the stillness created by changing shadows. Instead of introducing actual skylights, we reinterpreted these impressions through artificial lighting. Concealed light is diffused through the timber lattice to create Tenko, or Heavenly Light, a soft radiance that seems to descend from above.The lattice is not only a visual element. From the beginning, it was designed to integrate light, shadow, acoustics, maintenance, and fire safety. It softens sound reflection, creates depth through delicate shadows, and gives warmth to the space through the presence of cedar wood.In this way, the ceiling became a device that unifies atmosphere and performance. We hoped it would create a contemporary chapel where people could feel quietly embraced by light, material, sound, and the memory of the surrounding landscape.
A contemporary hotel chapel is not a space dedicated only to one specific religion. It is a place where people from many cultural backgrounds gather to celebrate one of the most important moments of their lives. For that reason, we felt that simply reproducing the image of a Western church would not be enough.Our approach was inspired by Togo Murano, especially the architecture of the original Miyako Hotel Kyoto. Rather than referencing Murano's formal vocabulary, we sought to inherit his architectural attitude—an ability to reconcile Western formality with Japanese sensitivity, material expression, and a profound awareness of place.This hybrid approach was proposed by our design team and accepted by the hotel. Instead of relying on obvious religious symbols, we focused on more universal experiences: light, shadow, natural materials, sound, and calmness.Wedding ceremonies may follow Western rituals, but the emotions they carry—gratitude, commitment, remembrance, and blessing—are universal. We wanted to create a chapel that feels open to different beliefs and cultures, while still being deeply rooted in Kyoto, Higashiyama, and the dignity of the Miyako Hotel.
The Westin Miyako Kyoto has a history of more than 130 years and has long held a special position in Kyoto's cultural and hospitality landscape. It is not merely a hotel, but a place where memories, traditions, and relationships with the surrounding landscape have accumulated over generations.For this reason, our approach was not to erase the existing chapel and replace it with a completely new image. We regarded the project as an act of regeneration. The existing walls, openings, structural framework, ceiling geometry, and overall spatial composition were largely retained. Upon this inherited framework, we introduced a renewed language of light, materiality, acoustics, and atmosphere.We named the project The Reborn Chapel because it represents more than a renovation. It is a renewed place of contemplation and celebration that carries forward the dignity of the Miyako Hotel while responding to contemporary expectations.For us, preservation does not mean freezing architecture in time. It means allowing inherited values to continue evolving. We hoped to create a place gently blessed by its landscape, history, and the enduring presence of nature.
We regarded wood and stone not as contrasting materials, but as complementary expressions of nature. Wood brings warmth, softness, and a sense of time. Stone conveys permanence, gravity, and a connection to the earth. By bringing these materials together, we wanted to create an atmosphere that could be both comforting and solemn.The floor uses tiles with a texture close to natural stone, selected for their quiet expression and durability. The walls are clad with rough-split granite from Shodoshima Island. Its irregular surface captures light unevenly and produces subtle shadows, giving depth and a tactile quality to the space.Cedar wood was used for the ceiling lattice and louvers. These timber elements soften the atmosphere, mediate light, contribute to acoustics, and allow maintenance considerations to be integrated into the design. In our interpretation, the stone recalls the mountains and enduring landscape of Higashiyama, while the timber evokes forests, growth, and human warmth.The aim was not to romanticize natural materials, but to reveal their poetic potential within a carefully resolved architectural framework that also satisfies durability, fire performance, maintenance, and construction requirements.
One of the main challenges was balancing the technical requirements of a contemporary hotel environment with the desire to preserve the richness and authenticity of natural materials.For the timber elements, cedar was chemically treated to achieve non-combustible performance. This was essential for fire safety, but we also wanted to retain the warmth, grain, and subtle shadow effects of natural wood. The dimensions, spacing, and details of the lattice and louvers were carefully studied so that they could function as lighting devices, acoustic elements, maintenance-friendly components, and architectural expressions at the same time.The rough-split granite from Shodoshima also required careful consideration. We did not want to use stone merely as a decorative finish. Its textured surface was selected because it receives light in an uneven and delicate way, creating changing shadows that contribute to the contemplative atmosphere.In this project, technical constraints became opportunities. Fire safety, acoustics, lighting, maintenance, and material expression were not separate issues. They were integrated into one architectural system. We believe the final design became stronger because performance and poetic experience were developed together.
Light was one of the most important architectural materials in this project. We were not simply trying to brighten the chapel. We wanted light itself to create a sense of calm, reflection, and gentle elevation.The concept of Tenko, or Heavenly Light, was developed as a contemporary interpretation of natural light. Instead of using actual skylights, we used concealed artificial lighting to evoke the experience of light filtered through trees or softly entering traditional Japanese sacred spaces. The goal was not to reproduce sunlight literally, but to recreate the emotional quality of natural light.We carefully studied fixture placement, beam angles, brightness, colour temperature, and the interaction between light and the cedar lattice ceiling. For Tenko, we set the colour temperature relatively high so that the light would feel closer to natural daylight rather than a typical warm decorative light.The light source itself is not meant to stand out. Instead, the space should feel as if it is quietly luminous. Through this approach, Tenko became more than a lighting technique. It became a central concept of The Reborn Chapel, expressing the invisible qualities of atmosphere, memory, and nature.
The chapel is located at the foot of Mt. Kacho in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, an area shaped by mountains, temples, waterways, gardens, and a long relationship between human life and nature. We believed that the atmosphere of the chapel could not be created only by interior design. It needed to resonate with the memory and character of the surrounding landscape.Rather than directly reproducing natural motifs, we tried to evoke the presence of nature through materiality, light, texture, and atmosphere. Existing openings were preserved and reconsidered so that the interior would maintain a subtle relationship with its surroundings. The rough-split granite from Shodoshima was also chosen because its geological presence recalls mountains, earth, and time.When light grazes across the textured stone walls, shadows shift gently, and the architecture feels quietly alive. This allows visitors to sense that the chapel is not an isolated room, but part of a larger landscape.Our aspiration was to create a place gently blessed by its landscape, history, and the enduring presence of nature.
Acoustics were an important design objective from the beginning of the project. The chapel is a place where spoken vows, music, silence, and subtle sounds all contribute to the emotional experience of the ceremony. Therefore, we considered sound not only as a technical issue, but as part of the atmosphere.The timber louvers and ceiling lattice were designed to help control absorption, reflection, and reverberation time. We also worked with a specialist acoustic designer and conducted acoustic simulations. This allowed us to study how voices and music would behave within a space composed of stone, tile, and timber.The proportions, spacing, and details of the timber elements were adjusted so that sound would remain clear while avoiding excessive reverberation. We wanted voices to be intelligible, music to retain warmth, and silence itself to have presence.In this sense, the wood elements shape not only light and shadow, but also the invisible landscape of sound. They help create a holistic experience in which sight, hearing, materiality, and emotion are connected.
Higashiyama is one of Kyoto's most culturally significant landscapes. Mountains, temples, gardens, waterways, and human settlements have coexisted there for centuries. This environment has cultivated a sensibility that values restraint, subtlety, natural materials, shadow, and an attentive relationship with nature.We did not want to translate this heritage into obvious decorative motifs. Instead, we tried to engage with the deeper cultural attitudes embedded in the place. These include the appreciation of shadows, the tactile richness of materials, the beauty of quietness, and the emotional resonance that emerges through carefully composed experiences.The project was also strongly informed by the legacy of Togo Murano and the Miyako Hotel Kyoto. Rather than referencing Murano's formal vocabulary, we sought to inherit his architectural attitude—his ability to reconcile Western formality with Japanese sensitivity, material expression, and a profound awareness of place.We hoped the chapel would allow the cultural memory of Higashiyama to be experienced not as an image, but as an atmosphere.
I believe that the ideas developed in The Reborn Chapel can be applied beyond church-like wedding chapels, including hotels, memorial spaces, meditation spaces, and other places of gathering. However, they should never be applied as a fixed formula. Each project must be carefully adjusted according to its site, history, purpose, culture, and users.In Japanese culture, places of contemplation have often emerged not through explicit religious symbols, but through carefully orchestrated experiences of light, shadow, materiality, sound, time, and an attentive relationship with nature. This was the direction we pursued in The Reborn Chapel.The project suggests that future ceremonial spaces do not need to choose between tradition and contemporaneity. They can be contemporary in function while remaining deeply connected to place, memory, and human emotion.The Reborn Chapel is not merely a renovated wedding venue. It is a contemporary place of blessing that quietly inherits the dignity of the Miyako Hotel Kyoto, the architectural attitude of Togo Murano, and the cultural landscape of Higashiyama.We hope it offers one possible direction for future spaces: places that are open to diverse people, yet rooted in the quiet depth of local culture and nature.
