Interview with Hiroki Watanabe
With experience gained from working at both a house manufacturer and design firm, this individual has designed numerous homes and vacation homes in Tokyo, earning multiple international awards.
Designer Interview
19 June 2023
When I was a child, my grandfather told me, while I was playing with blocks, "Why don't you try being an architect in the future?" He said to me, "Why don't you become an architect in the future?
I was playing with blocks.
Perhaps because of this, I was interested in architecture from an early age, going to see buildings and reading about them.
I was fascinated by beautiful architecture, and I was also interested in meaningful design (socially and for the global environment), and I have always liked the architecture of Tadao Ando and Peter Zumthor.
When I went to college, I had no particular hesitation in wanting to become an architect, so I studied hard in architecture, and today I am an architect.
I was playing with blocks.
Perhaps because of this, I was interested in architecture from an early age, going to see buildings and reading about them.
I was fascinated by beautiful architecture, and I was also interested in meaningful design (socially and for the global environment), and I have always liked the architecture of Tadao Ando and Peter Zumthor.
When I went to college, I had no particular hesitation in wanting to become an architect, so I studied hard in architecture, and today I am an architect.
At S Design Farm, we design with the following themes in mind.
We design "inspiring spaces" for "everyday life".
We pursue the two possibilities of designing spaces that are universal and enrich our daily lives, while at the same time providing spaces that are good and exciting in ways that cannot be expressed in numerical values.
We design "inspiring spaces" for "everyday life".
We pursue the two possibilities of designing spaces that are universal and enrich our daily lives, while at the same time providing spaces that are good and exciting in ways that cannot be expressed in numerical values.
Design is a proposal that combines both "beauty" and "reasonable meaning" and is a gift to the client, society, and the earth.
Houses are my favorite architecture. It is a small world, but no two are the same depending on the client, location, social conditions, etc. They come together to form a town or city. It is precisely because architecture is full of possibilities that I want to continue designing.
When building any architecture, there are always problems and challenges. I like to find the keys to solve them, to think of designs that create value that can only be found there, and to create beautiful architecture.
The first work he did for the design office was a house, "Murakoshi House".
I like primitive things like wood and steel and stone.
I feel creative when I find issues, find clues to solve them, and sublimate them into architecture.
We value the duality of "beauty" and "reasonable meaning.
I am excited about what I can do for my clients, society, and the planet, and I am excited about my own design.
I am excited.
I believe the shortcut to success is to be aware of three things: finding a problem, coming up with a solution, and creating a beautiful and reasonable design.
We make decisions based on two things at the same time: beauty and whether or not it makes sense. I try not to judge too much on one side alone.
I believe that it is our responsibility to pursue beauty and reasonable design throughout our lives, and to preserve consideration and kindness for people and the earth for future generations, while placing importance on safety and security as the minimum manners.
With today's advances in AI, the barriers to design have been lowered considerably, and I believe that there will be more opportunities for anyone to think about design. I hope that AI and humans will cooperate to create a better world for the future.
I have never participated in an exhibition yet, and would love to do so if the opportunity arises!
We are inspired by books, media, social networking sites, and many other places. But not only that, we work with an awareness of "continuing to think every day" in order to find issues and come up with solutions.
I try to design beautiful and reasonable designs, and I think about architecture that excites me on a daily basis.
I work in Tokyo, Japan.
Japan is a region with a long history and seasonal changes, so there is never a dull moment and there are many things to think about, so I feel the importance of thinking every day. When thinking about design, there are many small changes and differences, so I think having many opportunities to design is an advantage. The disadvantage is that we are an island country, so we do not have many opportunities to experience other cultures.
Japan is a region with a long history and seasonal changes, so there is never a dull moment and there are many things to think about, so I feel the importance of thinking every day. When thinking about design, there are many small changes and differences, so I think having many opportunities to design is an advantage. The disadvantage is that we are an island country, so we do not have many opportunities to experience other cultures.
As a client, I am conscious of thinking from the same perspective.
We work together with the company to come up with a proposal for the future and the ideas that the company has in mind. I believe that it is important to choose a good designer who has a good ear and a working hand.
We discuss the problems and solutions after properly organizing the site and the client's conditions. Then, as architects, we consider architecture that is a good answer to society and the global environment. We strive to create designs that are both beautiful and reasonable, and we seek to create forms that expand possibilities.
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I think about architecture from the time I wake up in the morning until I go to bed. I often work from home and spend time with my family at mealtimes and other times in my life.
I think it is important to be aware of the importance of understanding one's own strengths to work with AI, including oneself, and to enhance sensitivity on a daily basis.
The positive is that everything in the world is connected to my work in architecture, so I am stimulated every day.
The negative is that I keep thinking about architecture even on my days off.
The negative is that I keep thinking about architecture even on my days off.
I always want to feel the beauty of the architecture and realize that it makes sense, and I also want to use and live in it myself.
Sensibility to notice what is important
I use notebooks and iPads to sketch out ideas, and make use of CAD, BIM, etc. I also make models and think about architecture.
Schedules are very important to our clients and their businesses. We work backwards from the due date to the time it takes to do the work, study, and research, and make arrangements to ensure that the due date is met.
It may take from six months to several years, depending on the scale and application.
However, the idea and direction are often decided early on, and time is often spent on the study to realize it.
However, the idea and direction are often decided early on, and time is often spent on the study to realize it.
How, we are often asked to think about ideas and architecture
Accomplish and be impressed.
Although there are many different ideologies, many of the clients understand themselves, are generous and sympathetic to the architect's ideas, and are willing to trust us, and all of them are respectful.
I enjoy every design because almost no two designs or processes are the same. The most enjoyable work of all is when the architect, client, and creator can work together in the same direction and respect each other. Whenever that happens, a masterpiece is born.
In a few years, I will become independent and open my own design office. I would like to become an architect who can work not only in Japan but also in the world. Next, I am considering off-grid architecture in the great outdoors.
Situational. We work both individually and as a team. We don't limit ourselves to just one or the other, we make decisions on a project-by-project basis.
I have been involved in a wide variety of projects, from considering off-grid architecture in the great outdoors to building a house in the city center that is well insulated but has a comfortable place to stay.
You can contact us directly on our website as well as on social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram.
We would like to deliver many more works to the world, so we will devote ourselves to this project on a daily basis, and we would appreciate your support.