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March 28~31st, 2025 Presentation at CEAC2025 International conference
My first on-site conference, was a memorable milestone held at Waseda University’s serene campus in rainy Tokyo. I presented a data-driven approach to spatial design and was honored to be selected as Best Presenter of Special Session, a proud moment shared with my lab mates and advisor. The event inspired me through meaningful exchanges with fellow researchers and fresh ideas for future work (Aliffi).
March, 2025 Lab trip to Tokyo
I went on a 5-day, 4-night study trip to Tokyo. It was my first time there, and seeing famous buildings I had only known from the internet or TV brought a series of surprises and moments of awe (Kurohara). Spending time with my lab members during our Tokyo trip, then exploring solo from early morning to late night, I was eager to soak in every moment. My favorite spot was Omotesando—its beautifully scaled streets and architecture impressed me so much that I went back for a second visit (Aliffi).
February 20th , 2025 Clean up to prepare for our new students’s laboratory
Today, we cleaned the new students lab, which had gathered a lot of dust from being mostly used for copying and light tasks before, so it was quite a job. The sink was especially dirty since it had been sealed off and unused, but cleaning it was surprisingly satisfying. I also finally got my own desk, so I’m excited to focus more on my research from now on (Nakano).
January, 2025 Collaboration for graduation thesis
As part of my graduation research, I went beyond just writing by conducting a site survey, interviewing contractors, joining an ArchiCAD training session, and even participating in a competition. I'm grateful to the professionals and fellow students who supported me, and I hope to carry these lessons into future projects (Kouno).
Nov~Dec, 2024 Simulation assistant work for Indonesia vernacular housing simulation
I had the opportunity to assist with a research project from Ciputra University in Indonesia. Since I’m interested in thermal simulations, it was a great experience to learn about passive design and use Grasshopper simulation for the first time. Although processing a large number of data was challenging at times, I’m glad I could contribute to the research. This work was presented at the CEAC 2025 International conference (Nakano).
November 10~11th, 2024 Survey street stalls in Hakata
As part of our lab activities, I visited Hakata to conduct a survey on street stalls, targeting both tourists and locals. Despite the rain making it hard to find enough participants, we managed to meet our goal. We also enjoyed exploring places like Canal City and singing karaoke, though the long car ride was tiring, I’d love to take part again if I get the chance. This survey is used for our publication at the International Conference of Sustainable Built Environment 2025 (Sugita).
November 9th, 2024 Rendering work to renovate Mian sensei office
I recently helped an IT professor redesign his office using only existing furniture to better support his tech-heavy setup and student consultations. By rearranging key pieces like his desk and whiteboard, I created a clearer boundary between work and meeting areas. This small project showed me how even simple layout changes can greatly improve both function and comfort (Jun Hao).
November 3rd, 2024 Lab trip at Shimane Prefectural Government Building
Attending the Exhibition at the Shimane Prefectural Government building was like stepping into a living archive of modern Japanese architecture. Seeing the original hand-drawn plans and exploring the building on-site deepened my understanding of Kikutake’s Metabolism philosophy and his sensitivity to Matsue’s climate. The experience powerfully connected design theory with real-world emotion and detail (Aliffi).
November, 2024 Design and laser cut kumiko pattern for our class
For the Architectural Design Seminar I prepared class models, taught Archicad, and consulted with students despite my limited Japanese. Work on the facade of Flat Building at Shimane University, students explored lighting, scale, and Kumiko-inspired patterns through survey, 3D model, and VR. Collaborating with local carpenter Ochiai to create laser-cut wooden models made the experience even more rewarding, blending tradition, technology, and hands-on learning (Aliffi).
October 7th~ 17th, 2024 Design and build displays for local event
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We designed and built displays for an event called "Yonagomachi de Matsuri." It needed to be easy to assemble and disassemble without tools, and versatile in its usage. While it was challenging to turn these requirements into a practical design and think about the assembly instructions for users, completing the project brought a great sense of accomplishment (Kurohara).
October 6th, 2024 Beach BBQ to welcome newcomers
My first trip in Japan was to Izumo with my lab, where we explored the Shimane Museum and learned how Izumo Taisha’s legacy lives on through architecture and community. We later enjoyed shopping at a local market and a BBQ by the shore, sharing food and laughter. That day, filled with warmth and connection, quickly became one of my most treasured memories (Aliffi).
Sep~Oct, 2024 Work for BIM Class at high school
I assisted with a BIM class for 2nd and 3rd-year students at Matsue Technical High School. Since the students hadn’t previously worked with BIM, we taught them basic operations, building processes, and simulations over three sessions. Although teaching was challenging at first, the support from instructors and students helped me relax, and I ended up enjoying the experience. I’d love to participate again if given the chance (Sugita).
September 24~26th, 2024 Internship at Ochiai wooden workshop
Our lab have two days visited the Ochiai Joinery Factory. We learned and practiced how everyday architectural elements like furnitures and doors are made. Understanding the manufacturing process is essential for better design, and this experience reminded me of the importance of continuous learning to improve my work as a designer (Yui).
Jul~Aug, 2024 Survey events in Matsue, Izumo, Yonago
Our lab conducted survey in various events and interviewed people of all ages. Seeing attendees and vendors enjoying themselves made me feel happy too, and I realized how important these events are as spaces for community interaction. We hope our work in these events will help it grow to be a vital part of local communities in the future. Our work was presented at the CEAC 2025 International Conference (Yui).
June 10th, 2024 Presentation of Matsue Doken during our class
We had the pleasure of welcoming Sato-san and Nitta-san from Matsue Doken, who shared how architects can apply knowledge from environmental engineering in their work. Students were able to get involved, gain hands-on experience, and truly enjoyed the session. We hope to have more classes like this in our theory courses to make the learning environment more engaging and practical (Khang).
May 6th, 2024 Lab trip to Nima Sand Museum
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The Nima Sand Museum offered a fascinating exploration of the intersection between art, engineering, and nature, all within a culturally rich context of timeless harmony. We observed the museum's unique sand art and artifacts, each piece capturing the delicate beauty and impermanence of time. Like grains of sand, these moments were brief, bright, and unforgettable (Osmani).
March 13th~17th, 2024 Lab trip to South Korea (CEAC 2024)
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In Korea, I got to experience the local culture and values, which made me realize the differences from Japan. A major highlight was visiting the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, created by the famous architect Zaha Hadid. Its unique, futuristic design was truly impressive, and visiting other well-known buildings made it a fantastic opportunity to learn more about international architecture. The purpose of this lab trip was also to participate in the international conference CEAC2024, and we won an award there (Kouno).
December~January, 2024 Survey waterfront building in Matsue
We surveyed waterfront buildings around Matsue to explore how natural airflow can enhance living environments through passive design. Despite beautiful views, windows often stay closed due to cold weather in Matsue, making indoor air exchange less efficient. This project aims to raise awareness of simple actions like opening windows to support healthier indoor spaces while avoiding wasting energy (Nhung).
November 20th, 2023 Lab trip to Adachi Art Museum
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The Adachi Museum of Art’s use of windows to frame the garden like a living painting is truly impressive. It turns nature into art through careful design and showed me how light, framing, and spatial composition can transform the way we experience both indoor and outdoor environments. I really admire this approach as it is a subtle, artistic blend of architecture and landscape that feels rare in my own country (Jun Hao).
October 22nd~29th, 2023 Exchange Sakura Science Program
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Through the Sakura Science Exchange Program, we collaborated with Yersin University (Vietnam) and Mahasarakham University (Thailand) to promote environmentally friendly design by studying natural daylight patterns and sound absorption. A one-week workshop brought together students and researchers from the three countries, encouraging cross-disciplinary exchange on design thinking, parametric tools, and environmental simulation. The outcomes of this program were later published in Bunkyo News (Khang).
September 15th, 2023 Presentation our findings to Tanabe no Mori
We presented our research to Tanabe no Mori, continuing a long collaboration that began with lectures on passive design and a survey of their model house. The project examined environmental issues caused by heat and changing weather patterns in Matsue. Our proposal for passive design improvements, developed through this collaboration, won the AIJ Chugoku Region branch for Environment Prize of graduation thesis (Noumi).
August, 2023 Survey campus street food in Thailand
We took a field trip to Northern Thailand to lead a workshop on wooden architecture and continue our survey on street food culture around university campuses. The research focused on how vendors near the country’s largest regional campus use diverse strategies to attract customers while keeping prices low. Our findings were presented at the Eco-Summit in London and CEAC 2025 Conference in Tokyo (Nillapat).
June 26th, 2023 Presentation of Moriwaki-san (Atelier Bow-Wow)
Moriwaki-san from Innan Enishinomori shared their recent collaboration with Atelier Bow-Wow in our Living Environment class. The project is a rental house for U-turn residents in Innancho, using local resources and a new wall system that keeps heat in while displaying wood panels on both sides to celebrate regional craftsmanship. We hope it inspires students to value smart use of materials and support for local builders (Khang).
March 16th, 2023 Design laboratory furnitures using BIM Teamwork
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We designed our lab furniture from scratch, bringing a warmer, natural tone that reflects our philosophy for efficient work and an approach that values human experience. Collaborate with Ochiai Joinery Factory using BIM Teamwork environment, each piece was scalable and easy to assemble on-site. In just 10 days, we turned ideas into a smart, practical workspace (Noumi).
January 17th~26th, 2023 Survey Matsue Horikawa
Surveying Horikawa revealed how the mix of historic castle town and residential areas gives the city its unique charm. The reflections on the water and views of tiled roofs and stone embankments show a distinctive side of Matsue. We are building a virtual environment that offers a fresh, engaging way to experience this unique charm of Matsue. Our work was presented at the International Conference for Sustainable Built Environment 2024 (Nhung).
October 27th, 2022 Lab trip Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography
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Set against the vast Tottori plain, the Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography embodies Shin Takamatsu’s refined minimalism, where concrete and metal tones quietly enhance the warmth of wooden furniture. Every frame and shifting perspective echoes Ueda’s eye-level compositions. Indirect daylight through canvas ceilings and the distant silhouette of Mt. Daisen offer a subtle yet powerful metaphor for his timeless photographic world (Khang).
September 21st, 2022 Lab trip Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo
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