About us

Conception

01

1. Life

Universe
Reality
Space and Time
Miracle

At the beginning of everything... Space and Time.
The miracle behind the birth of life-- the Big Bang upholds how our creation came into being.

02

2. Mankind

Language
Imagination
Infinite Sphere
Possibility
Love
Confidence
Intuition
World

What makes humans unique is our language.
Through language, our imagination has become infinite/limitless.
And, in the name of love and belief, our intuition leads us to embody the quintessence of our world and life.

03

3. Creation

Art
Self
Action
Diversity
Thought and Physical Being
Architecture
Freedom

Art is the most primordial human activity.
Thought (fiction) and the physical being (reality) intertwined, work to manifest the diversity existing within, taking a new form.
Architecture transcends all such expression of art.
From ancient times, mankind has sought this eternal freedom.

Activities

Since its establishment in 2006, i-ado has worked on numerous projects, mainly in the field of architecture in Japan and abroad. From planning, designing and until the actual construction, works include cultural properties such as tea rooms, traditional Japanese folk houses, temples and shrines; spaces for fashion and dining; cultural institutions for education, art, film, and drama; accommodations such as hotels and villas; living space such as residences and summer houses.

What is unique about i-ado is that a project team is created. The best team possible is organized from a network built over years across different fields and regions, from Japan and overseas. By completing the whole process without outsourcing, those team members involved in the planning, designing and constructing all share an understanding of the whole concept, leading to comprehensive and innovative ideas which facilitate a speedy and effective execution.

Apart from the field of architecture, activities comprise of direction, design and production of theatrical spaces and installations―performance art such as musical, dance and theater; collaborative work of Japanese traditional performing art such as tea ceremony, Noh, and Bunraku (Japanese puppet theater) with modern art; product design and creation by handwork. The scope of work expands to the restoration of temples and shrines; planning of regional revitalization; corporate branding; collaborative project of scientists and artists; cultivation of international cultural exchanges.

Company Outline

Representative
Masataka Sakano
Creative Content
Architecture planning, design, construction management
Example
Restaurant, Boutique, Villa, Hotel, Studio, Gallery, Residence etc.
Area
Japan, USA, France, UK, Italy, Brazil , Taiwan, Thailand, India, Spain etc.
Founding
2006.7
Office / Labo
Palace-Aoyama 4F, 6-1-6 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0062, Japan
Factory
186 Shinyosida-cho, Kouhoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 223-0056, Japan
Office U.S.A
3812 Sepulvda Blvd, Ste 505 Torrance CA 90505
Contact Info
Tel +81-3-6753-9689  Fax +81-3-6317-7836

Profile

Masataka Sakano

Education

1992-1996
Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA
Graduated in Music Performance studies.
Winner of Chick Corea Award
1986-1991
Eiko-Gakuen Junior/Senior High School, Kanagawa, Japan
Left the school mid-course, with the objective of enrolling at Berklee

Interview

Please check the interview article of Masataka Sakano who is representative of our company.

Check

DECEMBER 2005 – PRESENT

Self-educated registered architect. (Acquired professional knowledge and skills through no college education, but through self-teaching and apprenticeship under various building contractors and Miya-daiku.)

Established, in 2006, i-ado, an Architectural Design firm and an Interactive-Arts Development Organization

Planned and designed numerous innovative architectures.

Representative works include:

Completed Works

"Villa Hayama", a musician’s summer villa in Hayama, "T-House", an art gallery, in Daikan-yama, Tokyo. "AURORA GRAN", a Jewelry shop, in Omote-sando, Tokyo. "CATCH", an advertising firm, in Gaien-mae, Tokyo.

In-Progress Works

A 300-years old sake-brewery, at foothills of Mt. Fuji, Yamanashi. A cultural complex (traditional textile art crafting) in Tooka-machi, Niigata.

Independent Master of Miya-Daiku (a woodworker specializing in shrines, temples)

JANUARY 2002 – PRESENT

Built and/or restored traditional Japanese architectures, including tea-arbors, shrines, temples, and national/local cultural properties.

Representative works include:

Completed Works

A Noh stage at World Heritage Toji-temple in Kyoto. Group of monumental buildings (chapel/convent/auditorium /school- house) at Sacred Heart School, in Shirogane, Tokyo. "Kanai Beikoku-ten", a 120-years old rice-shop in Kichijoji, Tokyo. A 150-years old historical architecture, in Koiwa, Tokyo.

In-Progress Works

A Japanese tea-arbor in Tangier, Morocco.

Representative Works

01

Japanese Sake Brewery in the foothills of Mt. Fuji

  • With reverence to the spiritual culture of Mt. Fuji, a world heritage
  • Conservation of a 300-year-old sake-brewery; a redefining of its history
  • Symbolic architecture for comprehensive regional planning; conservation of cultural heritage and coexistence with nature
  • Sake brewing as the hub, a revitalization of a borderless local community involving the people and local government encompassing art, belief/ culture of spiritualism, industry and tourism
  • Collaboration of modern architecture and the ethos and principles of traditional Japanese carpentry, "Miya-daiku"
  • General direction bringing together professional creators from various fields beyond architecture
02

Private School Project in Tokyo

  • Architectural planning embodying the school’s unique philosophy and educational ideology
  • On a vast piece of land of abundant of nature, stands this prestigious private school
  • Restoration of a variety of artisanal craftsmanship in danger of being lost
03

Restoration Project of Traditional Wooden Architecture in Tokyo

  • Restoration of a 200 year-old cultural property—a very precious building structure
  • Revival of traditional elements and techniques; collaboration with modern technology
  • Team of engineers brought together by our unparalleled network of professionals
04

Art Village Project in Hokkaido

  • Unique art space portraying the human body inside out
  • Symbolic architecture for Hokkaido’s touristic district planning; a venue where world top artists would gather
  • New concept of "residence for artist"
  • Historical townscape maintained and restored; coexistence with natural landscape
  • Sound environment system made by state-of-the-art engineering
  • High-quality craftsmanship made possible only by the historical and local social systems

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Contact

Our office is in Tokyo and Los Angeles.
If you are interested in our company, please contact us by email for inquiries.

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