Hayashi

In that respect, my favorite book, Momo (*1) by Michael Ende, is a book that deals precisely with the theme of time. My favorite episode in the story is about a street sweeper who finds joy in each sweep of the broom. But after he is robbed of his time, he finds himself rushing around in his work. How we interact with time can greatly change our work and our way of life. In that sense, I want to spatially unravel what architecture and cities should be like that support the activities of purposeful individuals.

Shigematsu

The answer likely won't emerge from the current form of cities. Even though advances in networks and AI are bringing about major changes to the way we live and work, today's cities are still clinging to the modern ideal that benefits come from people living in high-density neighborhoods. Google engineer Ray Kurzweil says that as dialogue systems using virtual reality (VR) become more immersive and comparable to real conversations, there will be no point in people concentrating in cities.
Speaking of AI, this year I served as a judge for the Shinkenchiku Housing Design Competition, a conceptual housing competition sponsored by the architectural magazine Shinkenchiku, and chose the theme "AI House." Behind this decision was my belief that before people start accepting design proposals from AI, backed by vast amounts of past data, rather than from architects, we need to carefully consider the relationship between AI and architecture. I believe that AI will bring about far more fundamental changes than the advent of the internet, not only in terms of work-life balance but also in the nature of our lifestyles and cities. As a result, will opportunities for face-to-face interaction between humans be lost, or will it create a utopia where independent people can gather together and enjoy themselves?

Hayashi

That "utopia" is already becoming a reality on a small scale. I was particularly moved by a Brooklyn co-op. Members voluntarily share their special skills, managing everything from purchasing goods to stocking shelves, managing inventory, operating the cash register, and even babysitting for coworkers. They live together in harmony. Witnessing this firsthand, I foresaw the arrival of a society on a larger scale where each resident can work and live by utilizing their unique skills. By that time, AI may be able to match talented people with unique people, and distinctive towns with unique neighborhoods. I believe new financial technologies, like the virtual currency Bitcoin and the blockchain that supports it, will also become the foundation for this.

Furthermore, from the perspective of "adventure and creativity," which I value, I believe that creating such new systems is a modern-day "adventure." A useful guide is Kawakita Jiro's (※2) book, "Idea Methods: For the Development of Creativity." According to this book, desk-based thinking is "desktop science." Experimenting and verifying the inferences that arise from this is "experimental science," a term coined in modern Western engineering. Now, more than ever, "field science"—the science that generates creativity—is crucial. The most important thing is the willingness to explore, observe, and invent. I believe we need to further embed this ability in society. (※2) Kawakita Jiro (1920-2009)...Geographer and cultural anthropologist. Known for his many achievements, including the creation of the famous "KJ Method," a method for generating ideas based on his own fieldwork experiences. (※2) Kawakita Jiro (1920-2009)...Geographer and cultural anthropologist. He is known for his many achievements, including developing the famous "KJ Method," a method for generating ideas based on his own fieldwork experience.

Shigematsu

While the word "innovation" has become popular recently, it seems that the word and concept of "invention" is deteriorating. Perhaps society today is finding it difficult to accept the act of "exploring something, even if the purpose is unclear," which leads to new inventions.

Hayashi

In that sense, I am focusing on "Metabolism" (*3) as a system of cities that metabolizes like living organisms. If we reexamine the ideas of Metabolism today, I believe its thinking is also connected to forests. I would like to see this uniquely Japanese idea that humans are kept alive by the power of nature be utilized in urban development as well. (*3) Metabolism...A Japanese architectural movement that gained attention mainly in the 1960s. In response to urban overcrowding and the demand for space, it presented a vision of unit architecture modeled on the metabolism (metabolism) of cells. (*3) Metabolism...A Japanese architectural movement that gained attention mainly in the 1960s. In response to urban overcrowding and the demand for space, it presented a vision of unit architecture modeled on the metabolism (metabolism) of cells.

Shigematsu

That's something we should definitely work on together. How can we redefine the way we work, live, and what cities should be? We need to think about a new relationship between cities and people, using the power of technology and thinking in a completely different way from how cities are today.