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Architectural Design Lab
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The lab explores modern and contemporary architecture in Asia from the viewpoint of design.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the possibilities of design through modern and contemporary architecture in Asia.
The Iwamoto Lab studies the design of modern and contemporary architecture in Asia.
Twentieth-century architectural design theory was built mainly around the West, but in Asia, where climate and culture differ, distinctive modern and contemporary architecture has emerged.
The lab aims to actively evaluate this architecture and broaden the possibilities of architectural design.
Its research, creative work, and development themes include the creative use of timber, prototype development for low-cost architecture, and architectural design for hot and humid climates.
Key terms
- Large-diameter timber
- Timber of large dimensions, cut from thick, mature trees.
- Archive
- A collection of materials that have been gathered, organized, and preserved so that they can be used.
- Architectural history
- A field that examines the design and technology of architecture within the flow of history.
NewsLab news
Associate Professor Iwamoto and others received the Works Award of the Society Awards from the Japan Society of Architectural Finishing
The residential work "Darabiki no Ie" by Associate Professor Iwamoto and others received the Architectural Institute of Japan Selected Architectural Designs award
"Darabiki no Ie" received the Chairperson's Prize of the Center for Housing and Building SDGs Promotion at the 2nd SDGs Housing Awards
The residential work "Live Sawn House" received a Highly Commended at the ar house award 2025
A paper by Associate Professor Iwamoto and others received the Best Paper Award at CAADRIA 2025
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to evaluate modern and contemporary architecture born from the climates and cultures of Asia, and to broaden the possibilities of architectural design. Alongside research, it takes on creative work and development, with themes ranging from the creative use of timber to research on the history of modern architecture in Asia.
*Illustrative imageArchitecture Using Large-Diameter Timber
This research explores the creative use of large-diameter timber, drawing on forestry, timber construction, and design. The lab has developed a construction method that integrates structure and finishes, and has put it into practice in residential projects.
*Illustrative imageBuilding the Shoei Yoh Archive
The lab is building an archive of the architect Shoei Yoh. Taking Glass Station as an example, it has published an internationally co-authored paper that examines the dawn of digital design from an architectural history perspective.
Research on the Architect Vann Molyvann
The lab studies the Cambodian modern architect Vann Molyvann from an architectural history perspective. In addition to a doctoral dissertation, a book was published in 2025.
MembersFaculty
- Associate ProfessorMasaaki Iwamoto
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Asia Museum of Modern Art on the campus of Asia University” YangChen(TW) / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Architecture Using Large-Diameter Timber: “Goshen timber frame roof system” Bpickartz / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Building the Shoei Yoh Archive: “Lattice screen of old mercantile house with a horse tie ring in Akibamachi” Peka / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (建築
デザイン （岩元 真明） ): “Traditional wooden houses in Gangtok, Sikkim” Rajani Gairshail / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (〈建築
デザイン〉 （鵜飼 哲矢） ): “Aerial photographs of Nankai University Jinnan campus 2020 Oct” Amazingloong / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (建築
デザイン （鵜飼 哲矢） ): “Plaza Mayor, Astudillo” Jl FilpoC / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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