This week unfolded in balancing concept and construction, theory and practice—principles that aim to strengthen architectural design.

1. Pavilion for Toyota Kosen: Defining Place and Purpose
The pavilion, in Okazaki in Aichi, finds its home amidst layers of historical and natural context—less than 1km east of the castle and just north of the river. Location is more than a point on a map; it is an anchor of the design to develop a dialog between design and location and how the location informs the design through form finding and design aesthetics. With the preliminary design phase nearing completion, we step into a critical juncture: aligning the pavilion’s geometry to the nuanced choreography of its walkway setting. A lesson in how site-specificity transforms abstraction into form.

2. Keio University: Conceptual Freedom and Digital Craftsmanship
Next Tuesday, the studio at Keio University will converge on the topic of digital fabrication—a discipline where the machine extends the hand of the designer. My upcoming talk focuses on 3D printing versus CNC milling, contrasting two methodologies with distinct possibilities. Herein lies a divide in most architectural projects: the Keio studio remains conceptual, exploring unbuilt visions, while the Toyota project wrestles with the realities of construction.
Both trajectories teach us something: unrestricted ideation fosters experimentation while building for real-world constraints hones precision and clarity.
Tools of exploration—Grasshopper and Rhino3D—will allow Keio students to analyze and iterate complex geometries, proving that computational design bridges creativity with algorithmic rigor.

3. Material and Craft: Lessons from the Workshop
This week also brought tactile exercises:
• Prayer Sticks: Achieving the desired form involved patience, precision, and the careful finesse which was finished with 220-grit sandpaper. A reminder that tools—whether physical or digital—are only as effective as their user. The sanding pad on the sander had to be replace due to improper usage. The hook on the sanding pad were barely holding onto the sandpaper.
• Etching on Anodized Aluminum: A first-time experience that proved the accuracy of machine precision. Using the Trotec Speedy 100, I found the process seamless thanks to the preset provided through the company.

4. Skate Ramp: Bridging Code and Craft
The skate ramp, now beginning of fabrication, CNC is a testament to machine reliability and design intent. The final review of the G-code ensures alignment between digital commands and CNC execution—an essential checkpoint where virtual precision meets physical reality.

5. Health Spa Renovation: Designing Through Constraints
Renovation begins not with design but with decluttering—clearing away the old to make room for the new. With one of the spaces still occupied, the process now requires empathy as much as execution: an architect must balance intervention with there being an occupant still inhabiting one of the room. This week, the focus shifts to designing amidst limitations—an exercise in adaptability.
Closing Thoughts
From contextual pavilions to digital explorations, tactile craftsmanship, and sensitive renovations, this week illustrates a simple yet profound truth: design is a negotiation—between place and form, tools and materials, freedom and constraint. The goal? To align vision with reality while leaving space for the unexpected.
Let’s continue to shape spaces that matter.