NEW! Architecture Changes with Society　-The Power to Decipher the Times-

■Course Content■

【１】Architecture and Historical Background

Architecture is often called “a mirror reflecting the times.” When thinking about design, the first step is to understand “the kind of era we are living in.”
Because of the Industrial Revolution, population growth and shifts in industrial structure gave rise to modern architecture.
So, what phase is modern Japan currently in?

【２】National and Regional Narratives and Architecture

Architecture serves as a medium for conveying national or regional ideals to society, embodying the confidence of the country in that era and symbolizing its vision for the future.
What do the Yoyogi National Gymnasium from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the Grand Ring from the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo represent?

【３】The Role of Architecture in a Diversifying Society

In an era where diverse values are the norm, what role does architecture play?
Architecture not only plays a role in responding to the assumptions of population and economy but also to the diversification of societal values.
Let's confront the challenges facing modern architecture and understand the changes in design philosophy.

【４】Case Studies in Meguro and Chiba

What specific forms will architecture take to respond to population decline and social diversification?
Amidst rising construction costs and increasingly severe land constraints in urban areas, designers are taking advantage of these limitations to pioneer new forms of housing.
Let's learn by looking at three specific examples.

【５】Architecture mirrors society and people's values

In this session, we have step by step come to understand how the shift from “answering architecture” —rigid solutions to predefined problems— to “responding (reaction) architecture” —dynamic, empathetic adaptations to evolving contexts— has become essential, and examined how this manifests in actual architecture.
So, in an era without answers, what is required of designers?

Main Course

English Course

Architectural Knowledge Development Programme