WINDOW RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Mission

The Window Research Institute is a public interest incorporated foundation engaged in research activities and cultural projects based on windows. Over the past 10 years, the Institute has explored the role that architecture plays in society by capturing architecture from a different point of view than the conventional perspectives through knowledge of the research theme of windows. Making a pillar of activities in conducting and supporting research and surveys on related fields and publishing research results through publications, exhibitions, and lectures, the Institute is promoting its activities aiming to develop discussions in a multifaceted way, while cooperating with active domestic and overseas organizations and specialists in not only architecture but different areas.

Profile
Name: Window Research Institute
President: Tadahiro Yoshida
Address: 1-1 Kanda Izumi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Year of establishment: 2018

Operations
1. Research on windows
2. Grants for research and artistic activities on windows
3. Grants for research and cultural activities related to architectural culture
4. Awards to individuals and organizations that made excellent achievements for the development of architectural culture
5. Projects including publications, exhibitions, lectures, and archives to disseminate and enhance the knowledge of windows and architectural culture in society
History
2007 Began windowology

Started initiatives for windowology, which is research activities to deepen our knowledge of windows, as YKK AP Inc. tried to change its business to be a window manufacturer.

2013 Established the Window Research Institute

Established the Window Research Institute as an internal organization with the aim of collecting and storing knowledge of windows, as well as disseminating and proposing their charm and potential to society.

2014 Exhibited at Milano Salone

Participated in Milano Salone (Italy) under the title Windowscape Exhibition. In collaboration with Atelier Bow-Wow, the Institute exhibited Kaleido-window, a tunnel-shaped installation produced with the assembly of windows inspired by a kaleidoscope.

  Held the Windowscape Exhibition

Held the Windowscape Exhibition at Tokyo Midtown Design Hub, exhibiting the research results, such as “Window Behaviorology” by the Tsukamoto Yoshiharu Lab of the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

2015 Held Yositika Utida Window and Architecture Seminars

Yositika Utida, an architect, held a series of lectures, in which he considered architecture through windows with young architects and researchers. Published a book titled Yositika Utida Window and Architecture Seminars, which included all the records of lectures and summarized a general roundtable talk with an audience.

2017 Held the exhibition of Windowology 10th Anniversary Exhibition: The World Through the Window (- 2018) and the symposium titled the Windowology International Conference: Windows Represent Civilization and Culture

Windowology 10th Anniversary Exhibition: The World Through the Window was held at Spiral (Minato-ku, Tokyo) from September 28 to October 9, 2017. The symposium Windows Represent Civilization and Culture was concurrently held on October 3. Subsequently, traveling exhibitions were held at five universities all over Japan (Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Tohoku University, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Osaka City University, and Kyushu University).

2018 Became general incorporated foundation

Became a general incorporated foundation on July 24, 2018, with the aim of engaging activities from a more public interest viewpoint than ever and contributing to the prosperous development of society and culture.

2019 Selected as one of the touring exhibitions for Japan House

Selected as one of the third touring exhibitions that would travel each of Japan Houses, which are the strategic communication hubs located in three cities in the world by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

  Started support programs

Started support through open calls for research and projects to contribute to the development of an architectural culture

  Held the exhibition The Window: A Journey of Art and Architecture through Windows

Hosted jointly by the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, and the Window Research Institute, The Window: A Journey of Art and Architecture through Windows, an exhibition crossing genres from contemporary art through architecture and history under the theme of windows, was held from November 1, 2019, to February 2, 2020.

2020 The Window: A Journey of Art and Architecture through Windows traveled to the Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art.

After it was held at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, in 2019, the exhibition traveled to the Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art from October 13, 2020, to January 11, 2021.

  Held an online exhibition at Japan House Los Angeles

Held the online exhibition, Windowology: New Architectural Views from Japan from October 24, 2020, at Japan House Los Angeles.

2021 Became public interest incorporated foundation

Became a public interest incorporated foundation on February 22, 2021, authorized by the prime minister.

  The exhibition held at Japan House São Paulo

Held the exhibition, Windowology: New Architectural Views from Japan from June 29 to August 22, 2021, at Japan House São Paulo.

  The exhibition held at Japan House London

Holds the exhibition, Windowology: New Architectural Views from Japan from December 1, 2021, to April 24, 2022, at Japan House London.

CONTACT Window Research Institute
1-1, Kanda Izumi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0024, Japan
E-mail