Seiji Takahashi

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Seiji Takahashi ("ST") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

ST : My parents are high school teachers. When I was a high school student, I got interested in architecture when I rebuilt my parents' house, and studied architecture at university. After graduating, he studied under architect MITURU KIRYU and gained experience.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

ST : I became interested in architecture when I rebuilt my parents' house when I was in high school.I read the collections and biographies of architects around the world at that time and thought they were cool.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

ST : I chose it myelf.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

ST : I design a wide range of projects, including commercial buildings, homes, offices, and factories. In the future, I would like to design something with a more public and dynamic scale.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

ST : Design talent is of course important, but since architecture costs a lot of money, you won't receive work requests unless you gain social trust as a human being. Don't rush and gain experience that will lead to your future

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

ST : Being humble.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

ST : Architectural design is not solely the work of architects. Behind it are legal constraints, cost limitations, functionality, and the client's demands. Designs that overcome these restrictions and are expressed creatively should be highly valued.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

ST : If good architecture has an impact on the surrounding environment and economy, I think we should invest in design.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

ST : I want to design my own home

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

ST : my own home

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

ST : Constantly striving for a higher level and never being satisfied with the current situation.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

ST : Mies van der Rohe、Carlo Scarpa 、Tadao Ando

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

ST : Tomba Brion designed by Carlo Scarpa.Beautiful and exquisite details

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

ST : I try not to think of my work as the best because I want to constantly evolve. The one that received the most praise was Villa K, which won this award.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

ST : Visualize yourself every day as you want to be in the future. When you do this, your actions will naturally change, and the results will change as well.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

ST : My master architect MITURU KIRYU

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

ST : Design experience when young

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

ST : living expenses

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

ST : The world's excellent media and websites

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

ST : Larger-scale projects not only in Japan but also overseas

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

ST : I will burn myself out to the end of my life in order to preserve as many buildings on earth as possible that move people and give them hope.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

ST : Unique design you won't find anywhere else

DL: How does design help create a better society?

ST : Good architecture attracts people and has a positive impact on the economy and environment.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

ST : Fusion of structure and design

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

ST : Villa K received this award. The client asked me to design freely without thinking about cost, and I was able to create freely.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

ST : Especially in Japan, where I live, I would like to see an environment where architects are more respected. Nowadays, there are fewer of them compared to the rest of the world.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

ST : Customized designs tailored to the needs of individual clients and users are required.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

ST : 3 months to half a year. 1 year at most

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

ST : First, listen carefully to what the client is saying. Then, find and organize the true desire within those words. After that, I drew sketches over and over until I came up with a concise and beautiful shape.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

ST : An attitude of never being satisfied with the status quo and pursuing better designs

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

ST : I don't think we can ignore the influence of trends as well as design demands. We always design with the hope that our designs will create new trends.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

ST : Turning a vague image in your head into a concrete form

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

ST : Sketch, 3D computer graphics

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

ST : Things like makeup and clothes. That in itself is an important element, but what I value most is the beauty of the spaces and structures that make up architecture. If you were to compare it to a person, it would be a skeleton. If you have a beautiful bone structure, you will look beautiful no matter what you wear.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

ST : The process of creating a design

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

ST : excitement. Emotional excitement. I feel motivated to do more

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

ST : It varies depending on the role, such as design, structure, equipment design, etc., but I think it's very stimulating to collaborate with people who have talents that you don't have.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

ST : My master architect MITURU KIRYU

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

ST : wirks of Tadao Ando

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

ST : During my young apprenticeship, I experienced designing as many types and scales as possible.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

ST : I would like to discuss current social issues and the future with people from different industries.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

ST : I am very happy to receive an evaluation from a third party and it gives me confidence. I don't know why a work is rated as famous because it is evaluated by a third party, but I think it depends on whether or not you can wait patiently until you come across a work that is rated as famous.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

ST : Color: Black Location: Venice Food: Pasta, Sushi Season: Spring Brand: Nothing in particular

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

ST : My father was a student at Nagoya University, so he often took me to the Toyota Auditorium at Nagoya University when I was little. Toyota Auditorium is the first building in Japan by architect Fumihiko Maki, who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize. I was only 3 or 5 years old, but I still remember the power I felt from that architecture. When I'm worried or hit a wall, I still go to that place to clear my mind.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

ST : Every day, visualize yourself as someone who will be admired by everyone in the future.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

ST : yes. I've always wanted to do that.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

ST : Just as there were civilizations and cultures on this earth tens of thousands of years ago, there is no creation.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

ST : I would like him to be known as one of the Japanese architects who pays close attention to detail, as symbolized by Japanese food and hospitality.