Special Issue "TAISEI DESIGN Challenging All Possibilities" on Sale !

AXIS Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Nobuo Asaka) has released a special issue of Design Magazine AXIS (vol. 232) published on April 1, 2025, titled "TAISEI DESIGN Challenging All Possibilities".

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Taisei Corporation's design department, a bold new design philosophy was born: "Challenging All Possibilities." Through the latest projects and diverse initiatives that embody a philosophy shaped by the voices of over 1,000 uniquely creative designers, this issue explores what architecture can--and should--be in the years to come. Why build? How do we build? What should architecture be 10 years from now? One hundred? This is a volume rich with questions born from diverse perspectives.

TAISEI CORPORATION　https://www.taisei.co.jp/

Interview　
Masato Matsumura, Managing Executive Officer, Chief of Design Division, Taisei Corporation

2025 will mark the 100th anniversary of Taisei Corporation's Design Division. To celebrate this milestone, the Design Division decided to revisit its design philosophy, introducing a design challenge reflecting Taisei Corporation's approach and attitude towards design. In an increasingly complex society, how should architecture, big-scale general contractors, and Taisei Design face the future? We discuss this with Chief of the Design Division, Masato Matsumura.

A Strong and Beautiful Concept Goes Beyond Use

"Beauty" is the relationship between people, things, and the environment. The situation and environment of a place make what is there feel beautiful. While architecture is naturally exquisite in its own right, "architectural beauty" also includes what is brought out from the city and nature where it is built.

What Architecture Can Do for People Who Live There

Architecture has been designed to support human society. However, our lives and lifestyles have become increasingly diverse as our society has undergone significant changes. This calls for changes in architecture--to become more human-oriented and environmentally friendly, rather than imposing uniform values.

Rethinking Architecture for a Sustainable Future

Architecture exists within the flow of time. How can we understand the history carried by existing buildings, and what kind of future can we envision as we create new ones? Architecture isn't complete once constructed--it evolves with time, offering new value to society and individuals. To create architecture is to shape time itself.

Contributing to the Conservation and Restoration of the Global Environment
Taisei Advanced Center of Technology Bridges Society with a Broad Range of Latest Technologies

Preservation of the global environment through resource circulation and greenhouse gas emission reduction has become an urgent challenge, and various efforts have been made in all sectors to tackle this issue. In particular, the construction sector, accounting for about 37% of global CO2 emissions, requires R&D of new technologies and their early implementation.

Three-way conversation
Flexibility and Collaboration Redefine the "Architect"

Architecture arises through collaboration across disciplines and connections between fields. Today, society's pressing demands--urgent environmental concerns, disaster response, and rapid advancements in digital technology--are fostering unique and unexpected new partnerships. These collaborations spark fresh ideas and inspire bold actions that lay the groundwork for our future, creating a new dynamic around the field of architecture. How do these three architects work in such a moment?

A Catalyst for Open and Vibrant Creativity
Design Initiative and Design Week

The Design Initiative and Design Week, hosted annually in April by the Design Headquarters of Taisei Corporation, provide a dynamic platform for exploring the essence of good architecture as envisioned by the company. Through diverse and inspiring content, these events offer fresh insights beyond the scope of everyday operations. A dedicated committee, led primarily by young professionals, takes charge of planning and managing the entire experience.

Roundtable discussion　
To Challenge All Possibilities
The Future of Taisei Design Depicted by the Designers

The new design philosophy of Taisei Corporation's Design Division, "Challenging All Possibilities," was decided by all members of the division. At its root is a culture that respects the individual more than the organization. In the free and open climate that has been fostered over the division's 100-year history, what do they pursue as designers for the future? Ten designers, from newcomers to mid-career and seasoned experts, discussed this issue. 

About Special Issue
In a special issue of Design Magazine AXIS, we introduce the design activities and projects of corporate organizations. We want to show not only those involved but also the readers what we are doing by systematically discussing our vision and philosophy for the future.

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