Museum exhibition rooms, as exhibition spaces, are required to have spatial designs and atmospheres that can accommodate various exhibits and exhibition themes. When selecting an exhibition room suitable for specific exhibits, it is believed that the ceiling shape, ceiling height, and floor plan aspect ratio of the exhibition room have specific impacts on visitors’ spatial impressions, which are directly linked to the effectiveness of the exhibition. This study experimentally examines the effects of ceiling shape, floor plan aspect ratio, and ceiling height on spatial impressions and the perception of spatial volume using VR technology with an HMD.

Earthen architecture has recently been reevaluated for its potential contribution to the circular economy and environmental impact reduction, yet challenges remain in applying it to contemporary construction. This study surveys domestic and international case reports to comprehensively analyze recent trends in construction materials, methods, and component composition. Findings reveal the selective use of stabilizers depending on function, diversification of construction methods including mechanization and dry construction, and composition techniques that meet performance requirements without relying on stabilizers highlighting practical responses to modern architectural demands.

This study examines the interaction between port-centered human activities and the natural environment, shaping the landscape, with Kure, Kochi Prefecture, as a case study. Historically, Kure’s urban area developed through the overlapping expansion of two regional industries—timber and fishing—anchored by its Pacific-facing port. Focusing on the timber industry, which rapidly grew and declined in the modern era, leaving behind related facilities, this paper interprets the dynamics between the port, human activities, and coastal development, considering the resulting landscape as a product of port-centered development.

The Izumo region had been a centre of Tatara ironworks until 1920’s. The ironmaking industry involved two social groups; ‘Sannai-mon’ the ironmaking communities lived in work-live settlements called Sannai, and ‘Jigesyu’ the farmers who supported the operation by supplying provisions and labors. The two groups developed different notions of self-identifications, which resulted in creating a socio-physiological boundary in between them. The scope of this article is to explore the multiple aspects of boundaries developed in Sannai. This article also intends to clarify the physical territory of Sannai which is depicted in historical materials.

This paper discusses the land use of the “No zoning” waterfront areas in major ports in Japan. The results are given follows;

1. ‘No zoning’ areas can be divided into two types: those designated for urban use, such as the development of commercial facilities, and those where it is considered difficult to implement zoning.

2. In ‘No zoning’ areas where mixed usage is increasing, periodic review of zoning should be undertaken.

3. Where residential facilities are located in waterfront districts, lifting of restrictions on the waterfront districts should be considered.

In this study, hotel planning is investigated to enhance international competitiveness, with emphasis on hotels that utilize the floor-area-ratio relaxation scheme in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The challenge with this scheme is conducting consultation with the ward from the planning stage and ensuring functions that benefit the residents. Issues presented include the increasing number of foreign-affiliated hotels (based on hotel-management styles) as well as ensuring facility space and utilizing dead space (based on interviews with designers). However, cooperating with nearby facilities are shown to promote meetings, incentives, conventions, and events.

This study analyzes the transformation process of the central areas of four towns on Iki Island, focusing on the period from the enactment of the Remote Islands Development Act to the municipal merger in the Heisei era. The analysis emphasizes the construction of public facilities and the development of civil infrastructure. The findings demonstrate that the transformation can be explained from two perspectives: physical expansion parallel to the coastline and functional expansion perpendicular to it. These two forms of expansion were significantly influenced by the island’s topographical constraints.

This paper examines the concentration of public housing and has reached the following conclusions:

1. The closure of existing housing units has a more significant impact on the overall changes than the construction of new ones.

2. There is a trend towards the concentration of new units within residential induction zones, particularly in use districts.

3. The location of older units that have reached the end of their useful life has a substantial impact on concentration.

4. In clusters composed of municipalities with small habitable land areas, there was no housing supply during the target period.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a redundancy-based index (RI), originally developed for disaster planning, as a spatial metric in urban analysis. By capturing the degree of overlap among multiple feasible paths, RI serves as a basic and quantifiable tool for assessing route diversity. Focusing on pedestrian networks around major stations, we demonstrate that areas with higher RI values—indicating greater differentiation of paths—exhibit stronger clustering of restaurants. These findings support the use of RI as a foundational indicator of spatial diversity and contribute to a deeper understanding of urban vitality in the context of planning.

Rapid population decline and aging are significant issues, especially in mountainous areas, resulting in difficulties in maintaining the necessary functions and services for daily living. To solve this problem, the concept of a small local hub has become popular. However, the population concentration and utilization of small local hubs are expected to differ depending on the functions and size of small local hubs. Therefore, this study categorizes small local hubs based on their size and life service functions and examines their actual utilization. This may help us understand the role played by small local hubs.

This study aims to propose a method for examining evacuation trends and response strategies based on regional characteristics in the context of disaster scenarios. Using a local government as a case study, the research involved classifying regions according to their specific characteristics, estimating potential evacuation scenarios for each classification, gathering information on evacuees, and evaluating possible support routes. Furthermore, the study repeated this analysis for a specific district, illustrating the step-by-step process of the examination and evaluating both its effectiveness and challenges.

The number of carpenter-skilled workers is decreasing rapidly. Vocational development schools are one of the leading facilities for carpenter training in Japan, though they struggle to function adequately. This study revealed the reality of the training system in vocational development schools through five factors: “trainers,” “funds,” “expertise,” “surroundings and facilities,” and “trainees.” Findings revealed that while these schools have sufficient “expertise” and “surroundings and facilities,” they lack “trainers,” “funds,” and “trainees.” The study suggests that collaboration among entities surrounding the schools and providing the school’s nurturing function to external parties are essential to addressing this issue.

In the construction industry, a number of employees leave their jobs even with higher work-engagement. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence the decision-making that lead to employee turnover and then to identify a framework for retention management on talent that can reduce turnover. The authors found that the decision-making to turnover is not driven by a single factor, but a complex interplay of factors. The authors also showed that the decision-making to remain in an organization is influenced by the realization of one's own role and significance through work as an architectural designer.

Based on the fixed asset buildings ledgers of 1660 cities, the average ages and lifetimes of buildings were estimated. The method of lifetime estimation is similar to for human average life expectancy.

The results are as follows.

1. The obtained data cover 94.1% of Japanese existing buildings.

2. Average age of whole buildings is 38.26 year and estimated average lifetime is 69.59 in 2021.

3. Some types of buildings' age and lifetime were also estimated. Wooden detached houses showed average life 34.73 and lifetime 69.53. Reinforced concrete office buildings 36.94 and 69.47, steel construction office buildings 29.53 and 58.47.

This study proposes an efficient recycling method for CLT panels during the demolition of CLT buildings. The method includes pre-identifying non-recyclable components using a BIM model, planning reuse, and creating a CLT cutting guidebook to systematize CLT recycling processes. Implementation results demonstrated improved work efficiency, safety, and quality control, with recycling efficiency surpassing expectations. However, challenges such as manual marking errors, site space constraints, wood dust management, and variations in technical proficiency persist. Future efforts should focus on standardizing BIM data, automating the cutting-line marking process, and developing site-specific plans to enhance sustainability in CLT recycling practices.

This study is to clarify the actual status of metal sheet cladding work in 10 villages in Iga City, where many thatched private houses still remain, through an interview survey. The survey revealed that new construction of thatched houses stopped around 1960, and that metal sheet covering work started around 1955 and reached its peak around 1970. It was also found that the timing and materials of metal shingle covering were influenced by the distance from the city center and the different roofing materials originally used.

This paper aims to clarify the characteristics and changes to the landscape design of the site of Okinawa Peace Memorial Park from the end of WW2 until 2001. The park, which was created and developed from 1967 to 1979, was originally designed along a north-south axis on the north side of Mabuni Hill with the view focused on the hill. Between 1993 and 2001, a monument of concentric circles was added to the eastern seaside area with a new axis running through it. The overall composition is now a patchwork of loosely-related developments.

This paper discusses Yokoi Kensuke’s building activities in Northeast China during the early 20th century, focusing on his career and design characteristics. His design methods were influenced by early modern Western architecture and styles like the Secession. Yokoi’s block-type buildings contributed to the region’s rapid urban development and introduced verticality to Dairen’s cityscape. His experience with the SMR and studies in Europe and America enriched his architectural approach. Overall, his work significantly advanced civil architecture in Northeast China by integrating modern construction technologies from abroad with the specific needs of local urban development.

Yuzo Mikami (1931–2020) was a Japanese architect who participated in the design project of the Sydney Opera House. Despite being a key member, he has not been sufficiently appreciated. This paper aims to clarify Mikami’s design activities using newly discovered primary sources: drawings, notes and letters. Mikami joined this project thrice, which we named the Utzon (1958–61), Arup (1962–64), and Hall period (1967). Then we analyzed four architectural elements: the concourse beams, shell roofs, warped surface, and glass walls. This research will demonstrate that Mikami’s archives are crucial sources when conducting historical and technological analyses of the Sydney Opera House.

This paper analyses the conception process of Le Corbusier’s apartment (1933) to reveal the realization or transformation of the ‘honeycomb as volume’ and the germination of the later ‘honeycomb as frame’. Although the construction method followed the ‘domino’ of columns and slabs that enabled ‘free planes’, the vaulted roof on the top floor transformed it into a more fluid interior space with fewer partition walls, and the various rooms were softly divided by freestanding furniture and revolving doors. The freedom of such ‘equipment’ is one achievement of the‘ honeycomb as a volume’ rather than a ‘dom-ino’.

This study analyzes trends in contemporary Asian architectural thought through the discourse of ARCASIA from 1984 to 2021, examining statistics, characteristics, and processes through a review of keynotes in Asian Congress of Architects of ARCASIA. The conclusions are: First, ARCASIA’s discourse has become decentralized and diverse over time. Second, “reflection on modernism,” “region & context,” and “nature & environment” have emerged as key characteristics. Third, four stages of I (1984~1992), II (1993~2003), III (2004~2011), and IV (2012~2021) can be identified. Overall, the thematic transitions in ARCASIA’s discourses emphasize the expression of self-identity in architecture within the Asian context.

This study conducted an in-depth analysis of all of Ryuji Nakamura’s discourses, using the KJ Method to extract design-related keywords and structure them to build a comprehensive design theory. Subsequently, through the combined use of the KJ Method and Diagramming Method, experience-related keywords and their relations were extracted and grouped into three relationship groups: architect-work, architect-user, and work-user. By examining the main contents within each group and the relations between groups, a theoretical diagram of experience design was constructed as the research outcome, representing a systematic design theory structure that encompasses the understanding, methods, and processes of experience design.

This study aims to clarify the evolution of the characteristics of Kazuo Shinohara’s residential works from the perspective of the ‘division’ of space as described by Shinohara himself. 3D models are created and analysed based on the drawings for the main components of ‘division and connection’, namely the plan outline, roof form and structure, in order to clarify the characteristics of each work and its evolution. The correspondence between the results and the thematic concept of each style is also discussed.

This study attempts to evaluate the spatial composition of the top six proposals submitted for the ‘Maison des Congrès’ competition held in 1958-59 in the ‘International Organization District’, Geneva. It was revealed that (1) the ‘platform’ as a step or a podium corresponded to the micro-topography of the site and separate pedestrians from vehicles, (2) verandas and terraces, attached to banquets or foyers, were viewpoints of the lakeshore landscape. Through such spatial compositions, the proposals for the ‘Maison des Congrès’ aimed to establish the center core for the traffic circulation and a vantagepoint in the ‘International Organization District’.