Makoto Sei Watanabe

Makoto Sei Watanabe
K Museum, Ariake, Tokyo
Born1952 (age 73–74)
Yokohama, Japan
Alma materYokohama National University Graduate School
OccupationArchitect
WorksAoyama Technical College
K-Museum, etc.
AwardsASLA Professional Award
AIJ Prize, etc.

Makoto Sei Watanabe is a Japanese architect.

He has been experimenting with programmatic generation of architecture since the 1990s,[1] and has already been developing and implementing AI since 2001.[2]

His activities encompass not only architectural design but also research, artwork, drawing, organizing international competitions,[3] and even writing a novel.[4]

Biography

In junior high school, he belonged to the biology club.[5] 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.[6]
He graduated from Yokohama National University Graduate School in 1976, worked at Arata Isozaki Atelier, and then started MAKOTO SEI WATANABE / ARCHITECTS' OFFICE [7] in 1984.

His first actual work, "AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE" [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] (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" [15][16][17] (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" [1][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] (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",[25] culminated in "SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI" [26][27][28][29][30][31][32] (2000).
Subsequently, he developed the AI program "program of FLOW" [2] (2001) based on this method and used it to complete "Tsukuba Express / Kashiwanoha-Campus Station" [33][34] (2004).
Its successor AI program, "pBM: project Beautiful Mind",[35][36] is under development.

In addition, he has received numerous awards both in Japan and abroad, including for his artwork "FIBER WAVE" [37][38] (1995). He has also authored many books, and served as a university professor at home and abroad.

Major works

Title Year City Region Note
AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE building-1[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]（AOYAMASEIZ Institute of Technology） 1990 Tokyo First Prize / International Competition
N.Y. Transparent Toilet[39][40][41][42] 1993 New York USA Awarded / International Competition
Mura-no Terrace (Village Terrace)[43] 1995 Gifu
FIBER WAVE series[37][44][38] 1995- Gifu, Tokyo, Graz, Vigo, etc. Austria, Spain, etc. Artwork
ATLAS[45] 1996 Tokyo
K-MUSEUM[46] 1996 Tokyo
SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI[26][29][27][28][30][47][31][32] 2000 Tokyo First Prize / Proposal
Shinkansen / ShinMinamata Station[48][49] 2004 Kumamoto
ShinMinamata MON[50][51][52] 2005 Kumamoto
Tsukuba Express / Kashiwanoha-Campus Station[33][34] 2004 Chiba
Tsukuba Express / Kashiwa-Tanaka Station[53] 2004 Chiba
RIBBON[54] 2005 Graz Austria Museum exhibition design
Shanghai House[55][56] 2005 Shanghai China
TOKYO HOUSE[56][57] 2006 Tokyo
RIBBONs / open-air theater[58][59] (Fulfillment Amphitheatre / Wenxin Forest Park in Taichung) 2009 Taichung Taiwan
WEB FRAME -II[60] 2011 Tokyo

Major Design Competitions

Title Year Award Region
International Design Competition for AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE building-1[8][11][12][13][14][10][9] 1988 First Prize
Design Competition for Osaka Pref. Peace Museum[61] 1989 Awarded
Design Proposal for Tokyo Metropolitan Subway Line-12 Station[26][27][28][30][47][31][32] 1991 First Prize
Design Proposal for Hyogo Performing Arts Center[62][63] 1992 Awarded
Urban Outhouse Design Competition[39][40][41][64][42] 1993 Awarded USA
ROEBLING GATEWAY PARK DESIGN COMPETITION 1995 Awarded USA
International Design Competition for Milan 2001[65][66] 2000 Awarded

Major Research and Development

Title Year Executed Architectural Work (Title of the program applied)
INDUCTION DESIGN[1][19][18][22][23][20][21][24] 1994--
ALGORITHMIC DESIGN[25] 2005
2000 SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI (WEB FRAME)[26]
2011 (WEB FRAME II)[60]
2005 ShinMinamata MON (KeiRiki program[51][52])
2006 TOKYO HOUSE (Environmental Color Program)[57]
AItect series (Design Support AI Program Development)[67] 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 FLOW[2] 		2001 - 2003
2004 TX Kashiwanoha-Campus Station (program of FLOW )[33][34]
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)[35][36] 		2017- 2023--
Organizer: ALGODeQ: ALGOrithmic Design Quest international programming competition[68] 2013 - 2014
Organizer : AQS: Algorithmic design Quest international Symposium[69] 2015

Professorships

University Position Period
Tamkang University (Taiwan) Faculty of Engineering Department of Architecture Chair Professor 2005-2010
Okayama Prefectural University Faculty of Design, Department of Architecture Professor 2010-2013
Tokyo City University Faculty of Urban Life Studies Professor 2013-2017

Major awards

Title Year Award Work Region
SD Review[70] 1988,1989,1990 Asakura Award, etc. JELLY FISH, etc.
HYLAR International Award 1994 Award AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE USA
JCD Design Award [71] 1996 Award Mura-no Terrace
Good Design Award [72] 1996 Award Mura-no Terrace
Chubu Architectural Award[73] 1996 Award Mura-no Terrace
IALD International Lighting Design Awards 1997 Award FIBER WAVE (K-MUSEUM) USA
IES Illumination Awards 1997 Award FIBER WAVE (K-MUSEUM) USA
JCD Design Award [71] 1997 Award K-MUSEUM
SDA Award [74] 1997 SDA Grand Prize K-MUSEUM
ASLA Professional Awards 1997 Award K-MUSEUM USA
Waterfront Award 1997 Award Mura-no Terrace USA
The Japan Federation of Architects and Building Engineers Associations Award[75] 1997 Award Mura-no Terrace
Urban Landscape Award by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) 1997 Award FIBER WAVE (K-MUSEUM)
iF Design Award[38] 1998 Top 10 Awards FIBER WAVE Germany
iF Design Award 1998 Award N.Y. Transparent Toilet Germany
The Marble Architectural Awards (MAA) 1998 First Prize K-MUSEUM Italy
Good Design Award[76] 2001 Gold Award SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI (Selected stations)
JIA (Japan Institute of Architects) New Designer Award[77] 2001 Award SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI
Architectural Institute of Japan Award[78] 2002 Award SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI
1st Environment and Equipment Design Award[79] 2002 Grand Prize SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI
The Institute of Electrical Installation Engineers of Japan Award [80] 2005 Award SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI
Public Building Award [49] 2008 Special Award and Excellence Award Shinkansen / ShinMinamata Station (Architectural Design and Surrounding Area Design Direction)

Major publications

Title Year Type Publisher Region
Kentiku-Ka (Architect ) 1992 Essay Jitsugyo-no-nihon-sha
Ryutai-Toshi (Liquid City)[81] 1998 Novel Jitsugyo-no-nihon-sha
MAKOTO SEI WATANABE conceiving the city 1998 Monograph l'ARCAEDIZIONI Italy
INDUCTION DESIGN (English edition) 2002 Theory + Work Birkhäuser Switzerland/Germany
Kentiku wa yawarakai kagaku ni tikazuku (Evolutionary Design) 2002 Monograph + Theory Kentiku-shiryo-kenkyu-sha
INDUCTION DESIGN (Italian edition) 2004 Theory + Work Testo & Immagine Italy
makoto sei watanabe 2007 Monograph EDIL STAMPA Italy
ALGORITHMIC DESIGN（collaboration: the Architectural Institute of Japan） 2009 Theory + Work kajima-publishing
Computer v. Human Brain (the responsible editor/l'ARCA special issue 271) 2011 Theory + Work l'ARCAEDIZIONI Italy
ALGOrithmic Design EXecution and logic (ALGODEX) 2012 Theory + Work + Program Maruzen-publishing
Machina x Mind International Architecture Workshop MaMiUU 2021 Education Tamkang University Taiwan

References

  1. ^ a b c "INDUCTION DESIGN".
  2. ^ a b c "MITOU iPedia".
  3. ^ "ALGODeQ: ALGOrithmic Design Quest international programming competition".
  4. ^ "Ryutai-Toshi (Liquid City)".
  5. ^ Kentiku-Ka ( Architect ). Jitsugyo-no-nihon-sha (JAPAN),1992, pp. 41-44.
  6. ^ Kentiku-Ka ( Architect ). Jitsugyo-no-nihon-sha (JAPAN), 1992, pp. 46-47.
  7. ^ "MAKOTO SEI WATANABE / ARCHITECTS' OFFICE".
  8. ^ a b c "AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE".
  9. ^ a b c "FRAC Centre-Val de Loire, 'Makoto Sei WATANABE'". 26 June 2025.
  10. ^ a b c Modo, Editoriale Modo, Milano, ' The Rule Breaker ', Dec. 1990, pp.18-19.
  11. ^ a b c Shinkenchiku Journal, 6 June 1990, cover & pp. 227-237.
  12. ^ a b c Yomiuri Shimbun,11 June 1990, evening edition.
  13. ^ a b c FOCUS, SHINCHOSHA Publishing, 6 July 1990, pp. 42-43, SPA!, FUSOSHA Publishing, Kobunsha, 1 Jan. 1991, FlASH, 18 Dec. 1990, cover, and other publications.
  14. ^ a b c l'ARCA, L'ARCAEDIZIONI, Jan. 1991, pp. 45-53, and other publications.
  15. ^ "JELLY FISH".
  16. ^ "FRAC Centre-Val de Loire, Makoto Sei WATANABE". 26 June 2025.
  17. ^ SD, Kajima Institute Publishing, Dec. 1990, p. 12.
  18. ^ a b Summary of Academic Lectures, Architectural Institute of Japan, On Demand City: planning of functions, using computer programs, 5283, 1997, pp.563-564.
  19. ^ a b Nikkei architecture, Nikkei Business Publications, 10 Oct. 1994, pp. 154-157.
  20. ^ a b Mall, Convenience Store, and Soho: Urban populism brought about by digitalization, NTT Publishing, Dec. 2002, p. 63.
  21. ^ a b Christian GIRARD,Ecole Nationale Supérieur d'Architecture de Paris Malaquais, Digital Knowledge, Emeritus.
  22. ^ a b INDUCTION DESIGN, English edition, Birkhäuser, Italian edition, Testo & Immagine, 2002, preface.
  23. ^ a b Kentiku wa yawarakai kagaku ni tikazuku ( Evolutionary Design ), Kentikushiryo-kenkyu-sha, 2002, preface.
  24. ^ a b Kentiku wa yawarakai kagaku ni tikazuku ( Evolutionary Design ), Kentikushiryo-kenkyu-sha, 2002, p. 82.
  25. ^ a b Journal of Architecture and Building Science, Is Thinking catching up with Technology: the start of algorithmic design, Architectural Institute of Japan, AIJ Prize for works, Oct. 2005, pp. 14-18.
  26. ^ a b c d "SUBWAY STATION / IIDABASHI".
  27. ^ a b c Journal of Architecture and Building Science, Architectural Institute of Japan, AIJ Prize for works, Aug. 2002, p.65.
  28. ^ a b c The Daily Engineering & Construction News, Nikkan Kensetsu Kogyo Shinbun, JIA Newcomer Award, 30 July 2001, front page.
  29. ^ a b INDUCTION DESIGN, Antonino Saggio, English edition: Birkhäuser, Italian edition: Testo & Immagine, 2002, preface.
  30. ^ a b c Nikkei architecture, Nikkei Business Publications, 25 Dec. 2020, pp.29-30.
  31. ^ a b c The Asahi Shimbun, 25 Nov. 2000, front page, evening edition.
  32. ^ a b c a+a, architecture and art, China Institute of Architecture, ed. Mar. 2010, vol.30, pp. 65-71.
  33. ^ a b c "Tsukuba Express / Kashiwanoha-Campus Station".
  34. ^ a b c Architectural Institute of Japan, Information Systems Technology Committee, 38th Symposium on Information Systems Applications and Technology, Abstracts, ' Can AI make designs? ', Dec. 2015, pp. 313-316.
  35. ^ a b "pBM project Beautiful Mind".
  36. ^ a b "Interaction × A.I. JST CREST HCI for Machine Learning Symposium".
  37. ^ a b "FIBER WAVE series".
  38. ^ a b c "iF Design Award - FIBER WAVE".
  39. ^ a b "N.Y. Transparent Toilet".
  40. ^ a b New York Magazine, 34022.
  41. ^ a b Shinkenchiku Journal, Urban Out House / the NAKED TOILET, Oct. 1993, pp. 278-279.
  42. ^ a b The Mainichi, 29 Nov. 1993, evening edition.
  43. ^ "Mura-no Terrace (Village Terrace)".
  44. ^ "FIBER WAVE". YouTube. 11 January 2008.
  45. ^ "ATLAS".
  46. ^ "K-MUSEUM".
  47. ^ a b Monthly Architecture Technology, Architectural Engineering Research, May 2020, pp.106-107.
  48. ^ "Shinkansen / ShinMinamata Station".
  49. ^ a b "Public Buildings Awards, The Public Buildings Association".
  50. ^ "ShinMinamata MON".
  51. ^ a b "KeiRiki series".
  52. ^ a b The Nikkei, 22 Nov. 2005, evening edition, front page.
  53. ^ "Tsukuba Express / Kashiwa-Tanaka Station".
  54. ^ "RIBBON".
  55. ^ "Shanghai House / INOUT".
  56. ^ a b "TOKYO HOUSE". YouTube. 6 May 2022.
  57. ^ a b "TOKYO HOUSE".
  58. ^ "RIBBONs / open air theater".
  59. ^ "Fulfillment Amphitheatre".
  60. ^ a b "WEB FRAME - II".
  61. ^ SD, Kajima Institute Publishing, July 1990, pp. 52-53.
  62. ^ "Hyogo Prefectural Nishinomiya Culture Center".
  63. ^ Journal of Architecture and Building Science, Architectural Institute of Japan, CG and Model: Hyogo Performing Arts Center Selected Proposal April 1993, pp.12-13.
  64. ^ Nikkei architecture, Nikkei Business Publications, 11 Oct. 1993, pp.166-167.
  65. ^ "LIGHTNING".
  66. ^ Shinkenchiku Journal, Makoto Sei Watanabe awarded in Milan 2001 International Competition, Mar. 2000.
  67. ^ "AItect".
  68. ^ "ALGODeQ".
  69. ^ "AQS: Can AI make designs?".
  70. ^ SD, Kajima Institute Publishing, Dec. 1998,1989,1990.
  71. ^ a b "Design Chronology, JCD".
  72. ^ "GOOD DESIGN AWARD".
  73. ^ "Chubu Architectural Award".
  74. ^ "History of SDA|SDA (Sign Design Association of Japan)".
  75. ^ "The 12th Japan Federation of Architects & Building Engineers Association Award Winners List".
  76. ^ "GOOD DESIGN AWARD, G-Mark Library".
  77. ^ The Daily Engineering & Construction News, Nikkan Kensetsu Kogyo Shinbun, JIA Newcomer Award, 30 July 2001, front page.
  78. ^ Journal of Architecture and Building Science, Architectural Institute of Japan, AIJ Prize for works, Aug. 2002, p.65.
  79. ^ "The 1st Environmental and Equipment Design Award, The Architectural Equipment Integrated Association".
  80. ^ "IEE of Japan Award, The Institute of Electrical Installation Engineers of Japan".
  81. ^ "Ryutai-Toshi (Liquid City) Free posted: Chapter 1: "Glass Is Always Flowing / A Room of Amber Light" & Chapter 6: "Tower in the Sea / Moon of the Light"".
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