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Imai Lab
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The lab investigates the relationship between urban and architectural space and the activities of the people in it, and designs space based on that understanding.
AboutAbout the lab
Thinking about space and human activity together
Imai Lab studies how urban and architectural space can be related to, and used to explain, the human activities that take place there.
Its themes include methods for analyzing and evaluating urban space, spatial systems in architecture, design methods, new materials, and the retrofit of old buildings.
The lab also designs buildings, including a tsunami evacuation complex in Izu City designed jointly with others, and "PENTA," a 3D-printed self-build experimental house.
Every summer, the lab holds a lab seminar retreat to survey cities and architecture on remote islands and overseas, and at the end of May it opens its activities to the public.
Key terms
- Computational geometry
- A field of mathematics concerned with efficiently computing, by computer, the positional relationships of points, lines, and shapes
- Retrofit
- Modifying an old building so that it suits current uses and performance requirements, allowing it to remain in use
- Self-build
- Constructing a building by the people who will use it, with their own hands, rather than leaving it to professional contractors
NewsLab news
Lab introduction video released for prospective applicants for FY2027 admission
Lab tours held for prospective applicants (advance reservation required)
Izu tsunami evacuation complex wins iF DESIGN AWARD 2026
Izu tsunami evacuation complex wins the JIA Excellent Architecture Award (FY2025)
Izu tsunami evacuation complex wins the Silver Prize at the Japan Space Design Award
ResearchResearch themes
The lab is interested in explaining the relationship between urban and architectural space and the human activities that take place there. Its work covers a wide range of themes, from the analysis of urban space to spatial systems in architecture, design methods, materials, and the renovation of old buildings.
*Illustrative imageAnalysis and Evaluation of Urban Space
The lab studies methods for analyzing and evaluating urban space using computational geometry.
*Illustrative imageDesign of Architectural Spatial Systems
The lab works on the design of spatial systems in architecture.
*Illustrative imageArchitectural Design Methods
This research focuses on methods: how architecture should be designed.
*Illustrative imageNew Architectural Materials
This research focuses on new materials for architecture.
MembersFaculty
Imai Lab's members consist of faculty, project researchers, project specialist staff, research advisors, research fellows, collaborating researchers, postdoctoral researchers, master's-level researchers, and doctoral and master's students.As of 2026
- ProfessorKotaro ImaiPublications ↗
- Project LecturerTakatoshi Arai
- Assistant ProfessorHiroto Yamaguchi
- Project Assistant ProfessorAi Kubota
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: “Tokyo Shinjuku Oka2” Okajun / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Analysis and Evaluation of Urban Space: “Voronoi colors” Bayu198 / CC0 (cropped)
- Design of Architectural Spatial Systems: “Capsules of the Nakagin Capsule Tower dllu” Dllu / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Architectural Design Methods: “Architectural Model ( )” THOR / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- New Architectural Materials: “One Athens Translucent concrete panel” Alexiahluliemp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Ikeda Lab (Architectural Informatics)): “ICD Research Pavilion 2011 Stuttgart 01” MSeses / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Obuchi Lab (G30)): “3D-Druck-Haus Wallenhausen 01” Looniverse / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Tachi Lab (Origami Engineering)): “Origami semi-periodic tessellation” Origamicke / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Honma Lab): “Barabasi Albert 1000nodes” Keiichiro Ono / CC BY-SA 2.5 (cropped)
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