Faculty and Researchers

Building Physics

We research the comfort, energy efficiency, and durability of buildings.

Structural Engineering

We do research on vibration to understand damping performance and improve damping techniques, as well seismic design procedures that take damping into account. Our aim is to ensure overall safety and comfort of buildings not only in major earthquakes, but also during small to moderate earthquakes and wind events.

Architectural Environmental Engineering, Heat/Humidity/Air Environments, Architectural Equipment

We are developing and evaluating new materials and construction methods with the aim of making buildings, in particular, homes, more energy efficient or zero-energy structures, making them more healthy and comfortable, and further enhancing their long-term durability. Our activities are characterized by selectively using social research, laboratory experiments, numerical simulations, and different approaches depending on the purpose.

Architectural Theory, Architectural Design, Architectural History

The modern era is a period in which the globalization of architecture advanced against a background of dramatic technological innovation. In that process, what has architecture taken and what has it left behind? We give thought to what constitutes the essential center from various social contexts surrounding architecture.

Architectural Design, Design Theory

Through models and drawings, we think while actually moving our hands and put into practice training to discover in the process of creating. In addition, we study the background against which modern architecture created new forms and spatial configurations, and in which architectural design is viewed from the perspective of environmental and technological integration.

Urban planning、Urban design、Community design

Architectural Planning, Urban Analysis, Architectural Design

We capture the essential features of cities through field work and analysis and propose new paradigms for cities through architectural design.

Steel Structures, Earthquake-Resistant Structures

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. To enable people to live with peace of mind, we are conducting research to help improve the seismic safety of steel-frame buildings.

Timber Structures

A variety of construction methods exist for wood structures. In addition, wood is a biological material, and thus, material strength is also uncertain. Consequently, the theory of structural design is still underdeveloped compared to reinforced concrete and steel-frame construction. We have adopted a research theme of developing computational theories and evaluating structural performance that will be beneficial in the structural design of various load-bearing elements. Since it is difficult to theoretically elucidate the full behavior of wood structures, we focus our research on tests of actual full-size structures.

Architecture Planning

In manufacturing, it is essential to get a picture of user needs and lifestyles. Using a variety of research methodologies, we gauge the needs of people who have difficulty in making their wishes known, for example, the elderly and the disabled, and study what is desirable in products, architecture, and communities from the standpoint of these people. In particular, we are undertaking comprehensive research on facilities for the elderly, from assistive devices and equipment to buildings and regional planning.

Urban Planning, Architectural Planning

Based on knowledge and techniques of urban planning and architectural planning, we define the principles of space configuration in cities, villages, and houses indigenous to regions in Japan as well as in Southeast Asia, with a view toward resolving regional problems. At the same time, we are engaged in practical research on techniques to promote collaborative community development with citizen involvement.

Architectural Environmental Engineering, Architectural Equipment Engineering, Thermal Environment and Indoor Air Quality

We conduct research on the planning, analysis, and evaluation of environmental building service systems to achieve indoor environments that will enable people residing in buildings to live in comfort and good health with minimal energy consumption.