Kenchiku-ka, Hashiru (Architect, running)

On an average, I make at least three overseas business trips every month. Besides Tokyo, I have offices in Paris, Beijing, and Shanghai. This translates into one European trip to go to the Paris office, and another to China; the last destination could be anywhere else—usually America, Australia, or some place in Southeast Asia. I also make many domestic business trips.
 
This book describes my jet-setting lifestyle.
 
Why do I take so many business trips? Why do I keep globe-trotting like this? One reason is that I love going to field sites. Checking the actual structure and talking about fixing this or that are moments I enjoy the most. Some people might say I could check the same with much less work involved if I made a big model and brought it to the office; however, you get a completely different impression when you see something at the site itself. Light, air temperature, and humidity differ at each site, as does the surrounding environment—that is, the height of the mountain behind, the size of nearby buildings and their constituent particle sizes, and so on. We determine the details, textures, and colors of our buildings so that they are balanced with their surroundings.
 
It might sound like I’m talking about something very complicated; simply put, let’s say architecture is like a live music performance, in that it’s influenced to a large extent by its venue and space. You will not know how you should sing or how you should keep the beat until you stand on that stage, and the same is true of architecture.
 
Another reason business trips are so important to me is because I enjoy maintaining such a schedule in my life and work. I make numerous last-minute decisions in the rush before a trip. In other words, I can’t decide if you tell me “there’s no deadline, decide whenever you like, or take your time.” Architecture does not have a single correct answer; in fact there are infinite answers, so once you start to fret, there’s no end to it. It’s easier if someone tells me, “Your flight leaves at 11pm, so finalize everything by then.” This way, I can completely let go and relax during the flight.
 
Once I’m on the field site abroad, it’s not long until I have to leave and get on a plane again, which puts me in a heightened state where I can make a flurry of decisions. This cycle of decision-making and letting go is something I enjoy.

 

(Written by KUMA Kengo, Professor, School of Engineering / 2020)