A groundbreaking educational architecture project has been completed in Minato City, Tokyo, representing a new approach to learning environments. The KOKUYO DIG facility, designed through a collaboration between DDAA architecture studio and KOKUYO corporation, opened in 2024 as a 494-square-meter space that reimagines how educational environments can foster curiosity and exploration.
The project emerged from a philosophical understanding of learning as a transformative process. According to the architects, learning fundamentally reshapes how people perceive the world by revealing previously unknown information and sharpening their perspective. This educational facility embodies the concept that knowledge creates a continuous cycle where understanding sparks new questions, curiosity drives exploration, and inquiry fuels further learning.
DDAA's design team, led by Daisuke Motogi along with Taiki Nakamura and Yui Yokoi, worked closely with KOKUYO's interior design specialists to create an environment that reflects this learning philosophy. The collaborative effort extended beyond the primary design teams to include specialized consultants for various aspects of the project. Nomura Real Estate Partner and TANK handled construction responsibilities, while SHOKKI provided lighting design expertise to ensure optimal conditions for learning activities.
The interior design emphasizes the importance of environmental factors in the educational process. Oryza contributed specialized planting design, integrating natural elements that support the overall learning atmosphere. The project also benefited from editorial and writing supervision by Soyoka Tsuji, with translation services provided by Kazuko Sakamoto to ensure clear communication throughout the international collaboration.
This educational architecture project represents more than just a physical space; it embodies a broader understanding of how built environments can enrich human experience. The architects emphasized that through the accumulated efforts of past generations, the world has been gradually formed, and this facility continues that tradition by creating spaces that encourage intellectual growth and discovery. The KOKUYO DIG facility stands as an example of how thoughtful design can support the fundamental human drive to learn and understand the world around us.
