Which city do you live in, and why should designers visit?
Corrugated House is based in Toyohashi — known as the 'City of Living Prototypes'. This regional city in Japan is quietly powerful, with roots in manufacturing and agriculture. Unlike major metropolises, it offers space to observe and prototype new ways of living. Located in Aichi, where craftsmanship, industry, and community coexist, Toyohashi inspires designers to explore how local identity can shape future society. Here, everyday life becomes a grounded yet rich source of design insight.
What is one myth about design you would like to challenge?
The myth that 'design must scale'. We believe in downsizing design, not as reduction but as precision. Growth isn’t always the answer. Designing small, slow, and rooted can often better serve people and places. For the Corrugated House project in Toyohashi, for example, we worked with local materials and craftspeople to create a modest and meaningful environment. The constraints were not obstacles but a starting point for creativity. For us, design is more about care than ambition.
How does having access to certain resources give your team an edge?
Our advantage isn't in our access to abundant resources, but in knowing how to uncover hidden value in what others overlook. Local materials, regional industries, and community knowledge are not just context — they are catalysts for design. By designing from within, not from above, we create grounded, adaptable solutions. Our greatest resource is the place itself.
