Makoto Sei Watanabe is a Japanese architect.
He has been experimenting with programmatic generation of architecture since the 1990s, and has already been developing and implementing AI since 2001.
His activities encompass not only architectural design but also research, artwork, drawing, organizing international competitions, and even writing a novel.
Biography In junior high school, he belonged to the biology club. In high school, he aspired to study biology at university, but on the recommendation of his biology teacher, he chose architecture as a field that combines both science and art. He graduated from Yokohama National University Graduate School in 1976, worked at Arata Isozaki Atelier, and then started MAKOTO SEI WATANABE / ARCHITECTS' OFFICE in 1984.
His first actual work, "AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE" (1990), which was the winning entry of the international competition, attracted attention for its bold design.
And another series in a different direction, a project called "JELLY FISH" (1990), which could be described as minimalism, was announced at the same time as "AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE".
Concurrently, he explored theoretical aspects and, based on his interest in biology, conducted research that viewed cities and architecture not from the perspective of conventional 'design' but from that of 'generation'.
He then released "INDUCTION DESIGN" (1994) as a method of generating architecture and cities using computer programs by algorithmizing the conditions to be solved. This method, later termed "ALGOrithmic Design", culminated in "SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI" (2000). Subsequently, he developed the AI program "program of FLOW" (2001) based on this method and used it to complete "Tsukuba Express / Kashiwanoha-Campus Station" (2004). Its successor AI program, "pBM: project Beautiful Mind", is under development.
In addition, he has received numerous awards both in Japan and abroad, including for his artwork "FIBER WAVE" (1995). He has also authored many books, and served as a university professor at home and abroad.
Major works +TitleYear City RegionNoteAOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE building-1（AOYAMASEIZ Institute of Technology）1990TokyoFirst Prize / International Competition N.Y. Transparent Toilet1993New YorkUSAAwarded / International Competition Mura-no Terrace (Village Terrace)1995GifuFIBER WAVE series1995-Gifu, Tokyo, Graz, Vigo, etc.Austria, Spain, etc.ArtworkATLAS1996TokyoK-MUSEUM1996TokyoSUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI2000TokyoFirst Prize / Proposal Shinkansen / ShinMinamata Station2004KumamotoShinMinamata MON2005KumamotoTsukuba Express / Kashiwanoha-Campus Station2004ChibaTsukuba Express / Kashiwa-Tanaka Station2004ChibaRIBBON2005GrazAustriaMuseum exhibition designShanghai House2005ShanghaiChinaTOKYO HOUSE2006TokyoRIBBONs / open-air theater (Fulfillment Amphitheatre / Wenxin Forest Park in Taichung)2009TaichungTaiwanWEB FRAME -II2011Tokyo
Major Design Competitions +TitleYearAwardRegionInternational Design Competition for AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE building-11988First PrizeDesign Competition for Osaka Pref. Peace Museum1989AwardedDesign Proposal for Tokyo Metropolitan Subway Line-12 Station1991First PrizeDesign Proposal for Hyogo Performing Arts Center1992AwardedUrban Outhouse Design Competition1993AwardedUSAROEBLING GATEWAY PARK DESIGN COMPETITION1995AwardedUSAInternational Design Competition for Milan 20012000Awarded
Major Research and Development +TitleYearExecuted Architectural Work (Title of the program applied)INDUCTION DESIGN1994--ALGORITHMIC DESIGN20052000SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI (WEB FRAME)2011(WEB FRAME II)2005ShinMinamata MON (KeiRiki program)2006TOKYO HOUSE (Environmental Color Program)AItect series (Design Support AI Program Development)2001--AItect - Subsidized Research: MITOU (programs for the next generation IT innovation leaders) by IPA 'Sensory-sensitive Architecture and Urbanism Generation Program' AI program: program of FLOW2001 - 20032004TX Kashiwanoha-Campus Station (program of FLOW )AItect - Subsidized Research: CREST (Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology) by JST 'Bayesian Optimization in Architectural Design' AI program: pBM = project Beautiful Mind(Joint Research with the University of Tokyo)2017- 2023--Organizer: ALGODeQ: ALGOrithmic Design Quest international programming competition2013 - 2014Organizer : AQS: Algorithmic design Quest international Symposium2015
Professorships +UniversityPositionPeriodTamkang University (Taiwan) Faculty of Engineering Department of ArchitectureChair Professor2005-2010Okayama Prefectural University Faculty of Design, Department of ArchitectureProfessor2010-2013Tokyo City University Faculty of Urban Life StudiesProfessor2013-2017
Major awards +Title YearAwardWorkRegionSD Review1988,1989,1990Asakura Award, etc.JELLY FISH, etc.HYLAR International Award1994AwardAOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGEUSAJCD Design Award 1996AwardMura-no TerraceGood Design Award 1996AwardMura-no TerraceChubu Architectural Award1996AwardMura-no TerraceIALD International Lighting Design Awards1997AwardFIBER WAVE (K-MUSEUM)USAIES Illumination Awards1997AwardFIBER WAVE (K-MUSEUM)USAJCD Design Award 1997AwardK-MUSEUMSDA Award 1997SDA Grand PrizeK-MUSEUMASLA Professional Awards1997AwardK-MUSEUMUSAWaterfront Award1997AwardMura-no TerraceUSAThe Japan Federation of Architects and Building Engineers Associations Award1997AwardMura-no TerraceUrban Landscape Award by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)1997AwardFIBER WAVE (K-MUSEUM)iF Design Award1998Top 10 AwardsFIBER WAVEGermanyiF Design Award1998AwardN.Y. Transparent ToiletGermanyThe Marble Architectural Awards (MAA)1998First PrizeK-MUSEUMItalyGood Design Award2001Gold AwardSUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI (Selected stations)JIA (Japan Institute of Architects) New Designer Award2001AwardSUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHIArchitectural Institute of Japan Award2002AwardSUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI1st Environment and Equipment Design Award2002Grand PrizeSUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHIThe Institute of Electrical Installation Engineers of Japan Award 2005AwardSUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHIPublic Building Award 2008Special Award and Excellence AwardShinkansen / ShinMinamata Station (Architectural Design and Surrounding Area Design Direction)
Major publications +Title YearTypePublisherRegionKentiku-Ka (Architect )1992EssayJitsugyo-no-nihon-shaRyutai-Toshi (Liquid City)1998NovelJitsugyo-no-nihon-shaMAKOTO SEI WATANABE conceiving the city1998Monographl'ARCAEDIZIONIItalyINDUCTION DESIGN (English edition)2002Theory + WorkBirkhäuserSwitzerland/GermanyKentiku wa yawarakai kagaku ni tikazuku (Evolutionary Design)2002Monograph + TheoryKentiku-shiryo-kenkyu-shaINDUCTION DESIGN (Italian edition)2004Theory + WorkTesto & ImmagineItalymakoto sei watanabe2007MonographEDIL STAMPAItalyALGORITHMIC DESIGN（collaboration: the Architectural Institute of Japan）2009Theory + Workkajima-publishingComputer v. Human Brain (the responsible editor/l'ARCA special issue 271)2011Theory + Workl'ARCAEDIZIONIItalyALGOrithmic Design EXecution and logic (ALGODEX)2012Theory + Work + ProgramMaruzen-publishingMachina x Mind International Architecture Workshop MaMiUU2021EducationTamkang UniversityTaiwan
References
External links
MAKOTO SEI WATANABE / ARCHITECTS' OFFICE Collection of FRAC Centre (Regional Fund of Contemporary Art of Center)