2019 was a tremendous year for AIA Japan. We have increased our membership from 85 to 93: we have achieved member count increase of 35% in the past 5-years. This year, we have made a decision to make this chapter be more event & networking oriented. While fulfilling the accreditation requirements, we have focused on one major agenda which is “member benefit = providing places for networking.” In 2019, we had 23 events in total, and provided total of 22 CE credits (14 HSW + 8 LU).
We had more participation in our meetings, local activities and overseas events than ever before. AIA Japan also developed stronger and more meaningful relationships with other societies, including JIA (Japan Institute of Architects), ACCJ (American Chamber of Commerce Japan), AIA Florida Chapter, Sky Design Award, Architecture Adventure, and Terada Archi Depot. We have also collaborated with academic institution including Meiji University and Florida International University.
AIA Japan is also working closely with AIA’s COD (Committee on Design) for their visit to Japan in 2020. Takashi Yanai FAIA is Chairman of the COD for 2020 and has been visiting Japan recently. He also served as a jury of a jury of AIA Japan Design Award this year.
Local Highlights
Local highlights include CE lecture series, Movie Night Discussion, Cherry-Blossom Viewing (Hanami), and Symposium.
CES lectures:
1. Mar. 7th, Sarah Bader, Gensler Japan Principal, Representative in Japan, IIDA, LEED®AP
2. Apr. 25th, Kaz Yoneda, Principal, Bureau 0-1
3. Jun. 20th, Li-Ren Hsiao, Principal, LRC
4. Jul. 11th, Marcela Araguez, Architect, PhD
5. Aug. 7th, Stanley Saitowitz, Principal, Natoma Architects INC.
6. Oct. 10th, Susan Jones, principal, atelierjones
7. Nov. 29th, Tim Porter, artist
Movie Night Discussion:
1. Nov. 27th, How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?
Cherry-Blossom Viewing (Hanami):
1. March 30th
Symposium:
1. May 11th, AIAJ/FIU INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM: RESILIENCE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Overseas
Overseas events included Grass Roots in Washington, DC in March, National Convention (A’19) in Las Vegas in June, and the International Region Conference in Shanghai in November. 2 AIAJ members attended Grass Roots, 3 attended National Convention (A’19) and 4 attended. IR conference represented AIAJ.
AIA Japan Design Awards
This year, we had the largest number of entries in the past 4-years.
Award jury were prominent architects inside and outside of Japan:
1. Nobuaki Furuya, Architect, Professor of Waseda University
2. Koichi Yasuda, Architect, Professor Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ph.D
3. Takashi Yanai, FAIA, Partner Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
This year, four winners were selected:
AIA Japan Award for Architecture
Balazs Bognar, AIA
Portland Japanese Garden Cultural Village
AIA Japan Award for Interior Architecture
Balazs Bognar, AIA
Shizuku by Chef Naoko
Honorable Mention
Ryuji Fujimura, Assoc. AIA
Subaru Nursery School
Honorable Mention
Ikuya Hanaoka, Intl. Assoc. AIA
EQ House
Awards were given at AIA Japan Design Award Ceremony on December 14th.
AIA Japan Year-End Party
On December 14th, AIA Japan held Year-End Party in Phoenix room in historical Hotel New Grand in Yokohama. In conjunction with Year-End party, AIAJ had AIA Japan Design Award Ceremony and two optional tours, Hotel New Grand & Historic Houses on The Bluff at Yamate.
