ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
In order to give the building a sense of scale that allows people to feel connected to each other , the 230m-long site was largely segmented into three sections , namely “ wind ”, “ sun ”, and “ water ”, which constitute the building . The idea echoes the phrase set forth by the founder as his vision for the enterprise in the twentyfirst century . Accordingly , the Sun Hall is a space open 360 degrees to allow natural light , with a capacity of 500 people . The Wind Patio is a place for conversation while dining . And the Water Salon is a place to learn about the founder ’ s philosophy and to reflect on oneself .
The three halls are interconnected by circulation routes that intertwine like a Möbius loop , creating organic and continuous spaces that impose no restrictions on human activities . The first and second floors of the training area are continuously connected by slopes . All areas , centered around the training space called Studio , are open and can be used as connected spaces .
Trainees can see each other ’ s training sessions , and the loose overlapping of their activities creates an environment where they can mutually inspire and stimulate each other . In the open spaces , furniture and other elements are placed throughout to provide opportunities for people to gather , and all areas can be used for training and interaction . Slope spaces can be used for exhibitions and other media functions to inspire visiting employees .
The third and fourth floors are accommodation zones , and the “ master living room ,” where trainees can get together after training and share their enthusiasm , is located above the Sun Hall and connected to it by an atrium . Trainees are led from the master living room to six “ cabins ” where they interact in small groups to consolidate their learning , and then to individual booths for sleeping .
From the reception area in the Water Salon , on the third floor , people can see the mountains and Todaiji Temple , and get a sense of the horizon of Yamato Lake , which originally stretched across the ancient Nara Basin .
The idea was to create a place where employees can have discussions with their colleagues and draw a grand vision for the future , while feeling the temporal axis connecting the past , present , and future .
The design team hopes that this facility will serve as a place of co-education , co-creation , and co-existence for developing new human resources for the new era , where various people can introduce their ideas through activities including educational support for children who will lead the future , and collaboration with local companies and municipalities .
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