Home　＞　User’s voice　＞　NOMURA Co., Ltd. Aoyama Nomura Design　Ryu KOSAKA

User’s voice

Ryu KOSAKA
Executive Creative Director,
NOMURA Co., Ltd. Aoyama Nomura Design

"Refining perception to
create legacies"

Ryu KOSAKA:
Executive Creative Director, NOMURA Co., Ltd. Aoyama Nomura Design


Born in Tokyo in 1960
Graduate of the Department of Architecture, Musashino Art University
Creative Director at NOMURA Co., Ltd. Aoyama Nomura Design
Part-time lecturer at the Department of Architecture Graduate School of Engineering the University of Tokyo
Vice Director of the Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association

Major Awards
2020 Gold Prize for Hospitality space/KUKAN DESIGN AWARD: The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu
2019 Sky Design Awards 2019/Bronze Winning Project in the Architecture Division: Y Residence
2018 Asia Pacific Property Awards/Five Star Award: Otemachi Park Building,
　　 Park Lounge Asia Pacific Property Awards/Five Star Award: SUGALABO
2015 NDF award: First Class Lounge (Haneda Airport, JAL International Flights)
　　 The International Hotel & Property Awards (England): Toranomon HOP
2014 The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards (England): W-HOTEL Guangzhou Fei Ultra Lounge
　　 The International Hotel & Property Awards (England): W-HOTEL Guangzhou Fei Ultra Lounge
2013 DFA award: W-HOTEL Guangzhou Fei Ultra Lounge
2011 Andrew Martin Design award: ORIENTAL HOTEL KOBE
　　 APIDA (Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards): Sushi SORA


Major Exhibitions
2016 TOKYO DESIGNER'S WEEK: Sharaku-inspired exhibition
2012 TOKYO DESIGNER'S WEEK: Ito Jakuchu-inspired exhibition
2008 FURO project at MILANO SALONE: Milano Salone
2006 6sense at shinjuku OZONE: Shinjuku OZONE

■Corporate (Studio) Overview/History

　NOMURA Co., Ltd. is one of the largest companies for spatial design in Japan. It is one of a few companies with the capacity to handle everything from planning, design, and layouts to production, construction, and facility operation management. NOMURA has a history of over 120 years from its establishment, with work spanning from international expositions and department stores to auto shows, museums and art museums, leading innovative spatial design in each era to this day.

　A.N.D. was founded in 2006 within NOMURA as a designer group specializing in high-quality spatial design. The organization gathered elite staff members working at the forefront of the business, to pursue purely creative work and construct originative human connections and expanses to create authentic spaces that will become "legacies" without being obscured with time. A.N.D. is engaged in interior/architectural/product design.

The organization's field of activity has spread internationally in recent years, widening the scope of business overseas as a professional group which maximizes spatial values.


■Thoughts and philosophy towards design/interior design according to A.N.D.

　Your aspiration is our inspiration

　A.N.D. puts weight on not only creating beautiful spaces—it also focuses on creating spaces that evoke emotion which will deepen human relationships and refine people's perception. We believe it is important to create a "legacy" with a full focus on details, along with "commerciality/impact" and "perseverance/permanence,"

　We aim to create spaces that offer more than simple, temporary impact. We want to evoke lasting emotions towards authentic spaces, created without compromise to the miniscule details. Producing spaces that will continue to create lasting impressions is the important value A.N.D. focuses on.



■ Introduction to/collaborations with the designing titanium TranTixxii

　I was introduced to titanium materials and the designing titanium TranTixxii after falling in love with the design of my favorite tumbler. Although I had some interest in the cutting-edge material titanium, keeping it at the back of my mind along with a vague image of aerospace technology, the inspiration causing me to discover and recognize this as a "material with design potential" from a personal spatial design perspective was, surprisingly, found in my daily life.
　After this new discovery, it seemed as though fate brought everything together, via acquaintances and various encounters, resulting in our close relationship with the designing titanium TranTixxii.
Titanium does not cease to amaze me as such a profound metal which stands out from other metals, with many prototypes still under development.

　It has a unique charm and a weathered atmosphere as if much time has passed. It does not seem out of place, even when present for long periods of time. I have been attracted to this type of material, and have used them in spatial design. I am certain that the designing titanium TranTixxii is also a material option that shares our philosophy for further creation.

In 2019, milestones for spatial design at A.N.D., such as luxury restaurants in the Seibu Department Store and in Ginza, were created with the designing titanium TranTixxii.

　We faced unprecedented challenges in order to fine-tune designs to create spaces. The debates on how individual specificities and "variants" are perceived differently in the context of creating spatial design versus industrial context are now some very fond memories of this time.
　Although our journey started with the under-development prototype Hyperbeta (new designing crystal titanium), thanks to the persistent trial-and-error of Nippon Steel's designing titanium TranTixxii engineers, the finishing results were original, remarkable designs that perfectly matched our spatial design philosophy.
　Creating first-ever materials and spaces by processing designer perception into industrial context.
I feel that this has been a wonderful departure point for first-ever collaborations that weave together cutting-edge industrial technologies with cutting-edge interior design and perception.

　Designing titanium has a unique sense of unique reflection, having a color interference phenomenon seen in titanium. This allows effects of special, fleeting light caused by interaction with angles and surrounding light. Its charms do not only lie in its original designs. The material also does not degenerate for long periods, is lightweight, and adapts to even harsh environments.
　We would like to continue pursuing the creation of unprecedented spaces through collaborations with the designing titanium TranTixxii, its one-and-only style, texture, and charm, and through A.N.D.'s cherished spatial design philosophy.


Seibu Department Store Ikebukuro/Special room 2019
https://www.and-design.jp/en/projects/details.php?pr_id=130#&gid=1&pid=1
Designer Fujiwara
https://www.and-design.jp/en/associates/fujiwara.html?var=200604



Ginza Tone 2020
Senior Designer Miyazato
https://www.and-design.jp/en/associates/miyazato.html?var=200604
Designer Ono
https://www.and-design.jp/en/associates/ono.html?var=200604

■ Future outlook and expectations for TranTixxii

　In recent years, Japanese designers who were nurtured, and refined under the strict eyes of clients have been receiving rave reviews internationally. The field of activity has also widened, and A.N.D. has also won various awards in international competitions as designers participating from Japan.
　Meanwhile, in addition to conventional designers from advanced countries, designers from outside advanced countries have also seen remarkable growth, and we have been very inspired by their drive. We at A.N.D. aim to cherish every opportunity for friendly rivalry with designers all over the world towards creating finer spatial design, and are also keenly aware of the necessity of motivation to absorb knowledge and refine our senses, in order to accelerate and boost growth.

　Although the designing titanium TranTixxii originates in Japan, it is a highly interesting material with a one-and-only texture that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, making it a world-class material with a universal aesthetic. We are witnessing the dawn of titanium, which only has a short history, as it is still in its infancy. The designing titanium TranTixxii continues to challenge unchartered territory, and I continue to be amazed at the newly developed products brought each time to our business meetings.
　In order for A.N.D. to continually maintain our unique position in the increasingly competitive global spatial design market, we hope that the designing titanium TranTixxii will also continue to create exciting, soulful materials that stimulate our senses and grow along with A.N.D. Although our positions differ, as one side is design and the other is materials, we both have a strong drive aiming to evoke emotions around the world. I hope we can elevate ourselves as rivals and as friends with refined perception.


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