Japan workshop for students
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Published
17 June 2024
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The University of East London’s (UEL) Department of Architecture and Physical Design recently hosted a four-day workshop in the Japanese city of Osaka, featuring both students and alumni. Entitled “Architectural Intuition”, it aimed to inspire students’ creativity and create meaningful connections between academics, alumni and prospective students.
Hosted by UEL Senior Lecturers Michele Roelofsma and Toshiya Kogawa, it saw 42 architectural models and hand-drawn observation studies produced. Mr Roelofsma was impressed by the quality of the models, with one in particular gaining his attention. He said, “The group selected a spatially interesting 1-tatami-size curved plywood model to be enlarged to a 9-tatami-mat size, so everyone could enter the world of the smaller piece and feel the space from the inside. It was certainly a spatial experience not to be forgotten.”
A total of 21 students attended the workshop, coming from various disciplines such as architecture, urbanism, landscape, and product design, representing institutions including the University of Fukuoka, Osaka Designer’s College, Kobe Design University, and Tohoku Institute of Technology. Five UEL alumni supported the attendees during the workshop.
Haruna Mabuchi, a student from Osaka Designer’s College, highlighted the valuable support she received from UEL academics and alumni, and the key connections she made. She said, “I learned a lot from Michelle Roelofsma and Toshiya Kogawa, of course, but also from the alumni who assisted me and the students who participated. Afterwards, we created a LINE group and shared photos and impressions among the participants. I feel that these relationships will become important in my life.”
The workshop fostered creativity and a hands-on approach through a series of activities designed to challenge the students. These activities included architectural exercises using cardboard boxes, 1:1 body mapping, creating forms by bending ply sheets, making landscapes with plaster casting, and constructing a small room.
Reflecting on the workshop, Mr Kogawa emphasised the future opportunities it will bring for both the Japanese students and UEL. He said,
UEL architecture has established a strong relationship with Japan since the mid-90s, and many UEL alumni have developed successful careers in Japan. This workshop could not be organised without their support. Re-establishing corroborative relationship with the alumni will enhance UEL’s presence in Japan and provide many exciting opportunities for UEL students.”
In addition to the workshop, the academics visited Tama Art University and Meiji University to discuss further collaboration opportunities for students of architecture and physical design.
