Thoughts on the delivered building

However, less than half a year after the new building was completed, an entirely unexpected situation had arisen. Gradually, posters and announcements began to be posted up ignoring the notice board space, and eventually the situation became even worse than before the reconstruction. Around that time, I had the opportunity to visit an executive from the other company. The topic turned to the notice boards, and I expected to hear a complaint, but he was pleased and said, "They came up with a really good design. Thanks to the steel walls in the hallways, we can easily post notices anywhere with magnets. It's a great help to the site and they've been very well received." In fact, the walls were made of steel panels to make them stain-resistant and durable, not for notice boards. They were being praised for something other than their intention.

By the way, designers want to control every detail of the buildings they are involved in. In particular, art and furniture are very important elements that determine the space of the building. We would love to have a say in this, but for the client, it is also something they can do themselves and enjoy. Therefore, there are many cases where decisions are made beyond our control. As a result, things that do not match the image of the design may be brought in.

Once, the building itself somehow became uninteresting due to the inclusion of art and furniture that did not match the image I had in mind. It was a project I had struggled with when I was still in the early stages of my career. It was well done, but I just couldn't accept the art and furniture in the lobby. Since then, I had pushed the building aside in my mind, but one day, I happened to be passing by and secretly visited for the first time in 20 years. The trees on the grounds had grown quite large. The plants on the approach were carefully trimmed, and the granite pavement was well maintained. The scratched tiles on the exterior wall had taken on a mellow charm over time. It was obvious at a glance that the building had been well maintained.

I didn't go inside the building, but I'm sure the lobby has been maintained exactly as it was back then. I was really grateful and pleased to see that the building I designed was still being used and cared for after 20 years.

It would be nice if people were to use it happily, even if it was not what the designer had anticipated. Choosing art and furniture is the same as thinking about the building as the designer. We want to be involved with the building we designed forever, but that is not always the case. On the contrary, hands other than the designer may expand the building's potential, and it may be completely reborn through redecoration, expansion, and renovation. It cannot be said that it is best for the designer to continue to have influence. No matter what the circumstances are, we want the building we designed to be in active use for a long time. The condition and lifespan of the building can be completely different depending on the maintenance after completion. This is something that the designer cannot do anything about. We can only hope that the owner will maintain it with love.

In the past, I was only concerned with the finished product of the building. Recently, when handing over the property, I tell the client that I want to take care of it forever, and I always ask them to "use the building with care."