Faculty and Research Themes
Field of Architecture

Deals with vibration control structures to reduce the seismic response of building structures. Through numerical analysis and dynamic experiments, deepens understanding from both theoretical and phenomenological perspectives of the seismic response characteristics of building structures and the performance of existing vibration control devices. Based on the knowledge gained, proposes and develops new vibration control devices and construction methods that are more effective for seismic motion response control, and aims to understand seismic response through dynamic experiments using prototype devices in addition to numerical analysis, propose design methods, and ultimately apply them to actual buildings and commercialize them.

Knowledge of structural analysis is essential for creating safe and rational building structures. Students acquire the latest structural analysis techniques by learning the basic knowledge of structural analysis methods and experiencing the cutting-edge analytical technology that is advancing day by day. In addition, research is promoted to mechanically elucidate the secrets of traditional Japanese architectural construction methods that have been left behind as traditional techniques, and to contribute to the preservation, restoration, and development of traditional architecture.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries and has experienced many earthquake disasters. Moreover, massive interplate earthquakes such as the Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes are predicted to occur with high probability in the near future. In this environment, students learn methods and theories for preventing and mitigating earthquake damage to building structures. In particular, emphasis is placed on approaches based on numerical analysis and random vibration theory, and research is conducted on modeling of input earthquake motion, evaluation of seismic performance of structures, and application to design problems.

Aims to integrate both research as a theoretical aspect and projects as a practical aspect for creating better environments. In research, students work on reexamining the human living environment such as architecture, urban landscapes, and outdoor public spaces from the relationship between "nature" and "humans" and from a "temporal" perspective. At the same time, as practical activities, students engage in various design projects and survey/planning projects.

The field encompasses housing, environments where housing is concentrated, and environments where buildings gather to form cities, regardless of inside or outside buildings, and treats people's lifestyles, livelihoods, and culture unfolding there as residential environments as research subjects. By standing in the field and conducting experiential surveys and research, the aim is to derive practical proposals in pursuit of sustainable residential environments where people can truly feel prosperous.

Architectural planning aims to construct basic theories for designing and planning architecture, and explores architectural planning and design methods from multiple and comprehensive perspectives broadly ranging from urban landscape issues to the welfare field, as well as from a global environmental perspective for coexisting with diverse life forms, regarding safe and comfortable urban and building development.

Urban design is a field that integrates various disciplines related to cities, and is a philosophy and practice of how to create urban appeal both temporally and spatially. Therefore, standing on the perspective of viewing society as a collection of people's activities, discovery itself can be said to be design, and the methods are diverse. Main research examples include design and management of public spaces such as markets, street markets, and artificial ground, landscape and scenery theory focusing on materials, techniques and design of site planning in urban housing, and local industries as regional planning theory.

In architectural history, students pursue the historical characteristics of Japanese society and culture using architecture, cities, and townscapes as materials, while also including the surrounding natural environment in their scope. Research subjects may or may not exist today, and materials range widely from buildings to literature, artifacts, and oral traditions. Students are required to accurately analyze and examine the contents of surveys and research and publish research results. Collection of materials, reading comprehension of literature, especially classical Japanese and classical Chinese literacy for dealing with the premodern period, are necessary. Students are also expected to hone their writing skills. We expect students to be active globally as professionals who carry on Japan's excellent architectural culture.

Explores how people work and live in cities through practical design activities and historical research. Therefore, research subjects are office buildings and housing from the modern period onward. In recent years, focus has been on so-called small-scale housing.

By simultaneously measuring temperature, humidity, airflow, air quality, and other parameters in residential and architectural settings while also monitoring occupants' sleep and cognitive activities and having them complete questionnaires, we elucidate actual conditions in real-world environments. This forms the basis for designing comfortable and healthy living environments. Research includes sleep assistance in shelter environments, heatstroke prediction at construction sites, and studies on heating and cooling via radiation and convection in vehicle interiors and offices.

Architectural acoustics consists of two fields: room acoustics engineering for obtaining sound environments suitable for the intended use of spaces, and noise control engineering for reducing unpleasant sounds. Students learn continuum mechanics to describe the behavior of fluids and solids, numerical analysis methods for numerically solving equations, and signal processing techniques for analyzing calculation results, and develop high-performance sound absorption and insulation structures and prediction design methods aimed at creating safe and comfortable sound environments.

In architectural lighting that combines daylight and artificial light, light as a primary factor in the appearance of visual objects and the atmosphere of spaces should be appropriately controlled after fully understanding light source characteristics, optical properties of visual objects and spatial components, and human visual characteristics. Students integrate optics focusing on light and optical properties, illumination engineering focusing on illuminating objects, and visual engineering and color science focusing on human visual responses for the formation of appropriate light environments for people, and consider architecture that realizes good visual environments.

Conducts research based on improving indoor air quality evaluation methods and proposals for improving air environments. To establish basic data and propose ideas necessary for utilizing odors and fragrances in indoor and outdoor surroundings, aims to create better air environments from multifaceted perspectives and methods based on sensory evaluation and simulation.

Reconsiders the sustainability and revitalization of local communities from the perspective of sustainability of residential environments, and researches and proposes the state of sustainable residential environments as hardware that incorporates soft mechanisms, based on various engineering specialties. "Revitalization" imagines efforts to reform communities with sustainability while being conscious of historical continuity.