What Exactly Is Light?

I vividly recall that during last year's Design Tide, an interview was held on November 1, 2009. The formal commission came at the end of the year, followed by a presentation just a few weeks later. For someone as laid-back as myself, the project moved at a breathtaking pace.

Initially, Toshiba presented us with the challenge of creating new value for light by drawing out the latent potential of LED light sources. We then began to consider what we, as architects, could do in response.

Regarding the sound within the venue, similar to light, we considered what the sound environment should be. We designed a space where neither the sound nor the space itself made strong assertions, creating a state where the space and sound were intimately connected.

For the past few months, it has been a period of experimentation, with the collaboration of lighting designer Izumi Okayasu and technical advisor Shinichi Sakamoto from Graphica. We also received cooperation from sound engineer Seiichi Ono, which further enhanced the strength of the space.

Although we constantly see light in our daily lives, we hope this space allows people to reconfirm the beauty, richness, and emotion that light possesses. By connecting with the luminous scenes within each person's memories, we hope it becomes a place where the inherent beauty of light can be truly felt.