It is in the ordinary and simple things that there is a gold mine.
Makoto Tanijiri manages more than 10 companies and has developed a diversified business that is not limited to being an architect. His schedule is literally "minute by minute. literally "minute by minute. His hobby of surfing is the first thing that comes to mind when we ask him why he takes time out of his extremely busy schedule to go to the beach.
At first, a carpenter friend of mine gave me a board and told me to start without hesitation, so I reluctantly started (laughs).
Tanijiri says that surfing is now an indispensable habit for him.
Just being in the salt water feels good. The time I spend waiting for the waves purifies my work and private life, and my mind becomes calm."
But here is where he differs from the average business owner. He doesn't stop at just resetting his mind at sea.
I went on a surf trip to Bali with a friend in October this year, and we had so much fun. Then, I decided to create a project in Bali. That way I can come to Bali for work and surf. I also like snowboarding, and it's the same thing with the snow mountains."
Rather than switching on and off, he creates and mixes "work" with "play. This is the style that Mr. Tanijiri has arrived at.
He is serious about both work and play. I create projects in the playground and work thoroughly. That is the best balance for me.
For Mr. Tanijiri, who is involved in the extreme of "man-made" architecture, how does "nature," which is the exact opposite of "man-made" architecture, appear to him?
We are often moved by nature, aren't we? I thought that if I could analyze this principle and use it in artificial architecture, I could be moved by buildings as well. What I realized is that nature is not aware of size...in other words, scale (dimensions). We are not aware of how many square meters the ocean or the sky is. In other words. "Lack of scale." is the essence of nature. On the contrary, architecture always has scale. Then, if you raise the ceiling height, the higher the ceiling, the darker it becomes and the more it blacks out. By making the sense of scale disappear in this way, an overwhelming sense of openness is created while still indoors. Or, nature is transitory, but architecture is not. But completion is not the goal. If we can leave a "blank space" in architecture that can be nurtured while living in it, we can create a transition like that of nature. I am trying to analyze the impressions of nature in my own way with my left brain and incorporate them into architecture.
For those of us over here whose brains are tickled with common sense, this story sounds outlandish at first, but the careful and logical explanation of the background and reasons for the idea convinces us deeply. How are these unique ideas generated?
What I do is not to focus on anything special, but rather to dig deeper into the simple things that everyone normally feels, such as why we feel nature is beautiful, as I mentioned earlier. But in modern architecture, function and convenience tend to be sought after, don't they? If we pursue only function, the latest will always be the best. But the moment the function is compromised, it is discarded. On the other hand, there are people who complain about old cars that break down every year (laughs), but love them while repairing them. The same is true of motorcycles, watches, clothes, and other fashion items. Even if it lacks functionality, there is a deep attachment to it.
There is a common belief that a good house cannot be built unless it is built three times, but Mr. Tanijiri's goal is a house that can be loved even if it is built the first time.
I feel that if I can love a house, even if it is inconvenient as a result, I will cherish it for the rest of my life. The same goes for the relationship between a husband and wife or a couple. You don't love someone because they are perfect and functional (laughs). (Laughs) Even if there are some faults, you treat them with affection. I want to value such things in architecture and in relationships with people. That is why I always want to know what people are interested in and what they are attached to.
