## First of all, please tell us about your background.

I started a construction business as the third generation of a company called Anzai Kensetsu Kogyo, inheriting my grandfather and father's construction business. I wanted to create more casual style of architecture, and at the age of 23, I changed the company name to Lifestyle. I turned it into a workshop. As we continued to expand our business, we wanted to clarify the purpose of what we were building, so we launched ADX Co. Ltd. five years ago and created a philosophy. This was the idea of ''living with the forest''.

## What exactly is the concept of ''living with the forest''?

Since we are dealing with wooden buildings, we cannot build them without forests. Therefore, the more we do business, I thought it would be possible to create a system that would enrich the forest. For example, we created a system that resembles a product rather than a traditional building. If on-site construction takes a long time, CO2 will be emitted, which will place a burden on the environment. Another thing is that forests are harsh environments, which places a burden on the people who work there. So they make about 70% of it in a factory and transport it by truck, keeping on-site construction to a minimum. I created a system that, by shortening the time spent working on-site, can build buildings safely in nature.

What kind of architecture do you create?
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The blueprint was a mountain hut called Kurokane Hut that my grandfather built on Mt. Adatara in Fukushima about 60 years ago. It's not healthy to build buildings that are left vacant or demolished. ''Kurokane Hut'' is loved by people and has coexisted with nature for a long time. Inheriting that DNA, I wanted to create "architecture that will last" like my grandfather.

What we started working on was a members-only shared second home that we created together with a company called SANU, which was a challenge for us as well. Currently, there are about 100 SANU second homes located in various locations around the country, but one major feature is that they are all built in the same way. The only difference is the natural scenery when you open the window. It's not a hotel but a second home, so when you come back, you say "I'm home." I wanted it to be a place where I could say that. The main thing is the beautiful nature that exists there. Therefore, the purpose of our architecture is to create a place where people can stay with peace of mind.

''Honeycomb structure''
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SANU 2nd Home's SANU CABIN BEE has a very unique shape. SANU CABIN BEE imitates the structure of a beehive called a "honeycomb structure", and is very structurally strong. It can withstand even heavy snowfall. No one taught me this, but it's amazing how bees can build strong hexagonal nests. Design inspiration is found in nature. There are many moments when I think it's more beautiful.

## This quilting pattern must have some meaning, right?

(Lavenham Staff)

I agree. For example, diamond quilting has criss-cross seams, which are deliberately sewn so that they overlap so that even if they fray, they will stop.

I love that kind of thing. This is something that appeals to me as a manufacturing person. I just remembered that there are leaves that deer often eat, and the veins of the leaves overlap, allowing them to photosynthesize even if they are eaten to some extent. I think it's a little similar to that. I like to think about why the hem of this gilet is intentionally curved, even though it would have been easier to make it if it were 90 degrees.

## Did you have the perspective to look at the structure of everything from an early age?

I've been like that since I was a child. When I was a child, I wanted to be an inventor, so I made phone calls and sent letters to various places. The attitude of not leaving questions and ideas only in one's head embodies the philosophy of "Living with the Forest". It's connected to what you do. I don't know if that's the right answer, but I think it's better not to look at anything in one direction. There are many animals on earth, and there are perspectives from their side, and diversity can only be created by considering them. The entire earth is connected through a network, so I think that by looking at things from various points of view rather than looking at things from one direction, knowledge and wisdom can be generated, and above all, it's more fun.

## Please tell us about your daily clothes choices and habits.

It is important that clothes can be worn every day. I chose this gilet for various climates. It's versatile and goes with anything. I'm a lazy person, so I have the same clothes and shoes for a week and wear the same clothes every day. Instead, there is something that changes every day, and that is the path. For example, I change my route to the office every day. Just move the shortest distance, your life will be enriched if you enjoy the time you spend traveling, rather than having to work on it. You have various feelings, don't you? Like nature, I'm interested in things that I can't change on my own. There are various hints hidden there, and that's what makes it fun.

For Mr. Anzai, it is important for clothes to have functionality that allows him to be himself, because he can draw attention to a variety of things.

I think so. I feel like going on adventures to different places every day, so it's important that my clothes have the functionality necessary for adventures, such as temperature regulation and comfort. Lavenham is also light, easy to move around in, and warm. You talked about quilting earlier, but it's important for me to be able to talk about it properly. I'm attracted to clothes that I can tell where they were made and who made them.

## What other images do you have of Lavenham?

It's a brand that lasts a long time. I said earlier that I wanted to create ''architectures that will last'' but the same goes for clothes; I'm not attracted to things that will end up in the trash in five years. Being able to wear clothes properly for a long time seems like a given, but it's extremely important. As fast fashion is mass-produced and mass-consumed, the question of whether you can spend a long time with your clothes and make memories inside them is the same. I think "wearing something" is a completely different thing. It's a very simple thing, but it's nice to be able to wear it for a long time. I feel a sense of security that we can be together forever. It's the same with architecture; buildings that have been filled with people's thoughts over a long period create a sense of attachment and peace of mind. I feel sympathy in that way.

(Lavenham Staff)

Lavenham also has the idea of ''Being Better'' and we empathise with the idea of ''living with the forest.'' All of Lavenham's products are still made in factories located in the meadows of England. We have been manufacturing products with an emphasis on quality within the scope of our eyes. Our philosophy is to do what is appropriate for our size and within the scope of consideration for the global environment. For example, if we end up throwing away some things to make everything more sustainable, we are trying to start by using up what we already have. We also focus on repair services because we believe that it is best for our products to be used for a long time.

(Mr. Anzai)

I believe that this is a WIN-WIN world. There are many cases where humans are left behind when something is said to be "environmentally friendly." But aren't we also one of the living creatures? It's a bit contradictory to exclude humans when we're trying to improve the entire planet. It's sad to make humans the bad guys, and we can't create a new society that way. I hope we don't forget how to cherish what we have now.

## Kotaro Anzai

Born in 1977 in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. As the third generation of Anzai Kensetsu Kogyo, which has been in business since his grandfather's generation, he founded ADX Co., Ltd. in 2006 with a new philosophy of "living with the forest." Focusing on architecture, he devises and puts into practice systems that coexist with nature from various perspectives. He has received many awards, including winning the 1st JAPAN WOOD DESIGN AWARD 2015 Social Design Category, the Wood Design Award 2022 Final Excellence Award, and the Wood City TOKYO Model Architecture Award Grand Prize.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/___adx___/