Forming Function

Tell us where you’re from and what you do for work!
I’m from Japan, but I’ve been living in Dubai for 13 years. I work as an architect and I occasionally illustrate too.

I studied architecture in Japan and have designed art centres, private villas, convention centres, and even mosques, though I’m not Muslim.

What brings you to Singapore?
I’m just transiting here for a day on my way back to Dubai.

That’s quick! Have any buildings here caught your eye so far?
Not yet since I haven’t gotten the chance to see many buildings.

What is it like living in Dubai as a Japanese person?
Dubai’s population is around 10% local, with the remaining 90% made up of foreigners, so there’s a lot of different cultures to experience there. Compared to Japan, I feel there’s more freedom in Dubai, as Japanese culture tends to be more rigid and structured.

How do you think this freedom has informed the works that you do?
Each country communicates differently, and the way people speak and express themselves varies, so there’s no single, common approach to architecture, which always makes it interesting.

Going back to the work that you’ve done, it’s interesting that you’ve designed both mosques and art buildings. When you don’t fully understand or have a point of reference for a building, how do you approach getting to know it before starting your work?
With mosques, for example, there’s a lot of history and regulation involved. I have to abide by certain rules while still making the design feel contemporary. So we do a lot of research—looking at references and considering the building’s context—but we also aim to create something new and original.