For Immediate Release

April 10, 2013
LIXIL JS Foundation

3rd LIXIL International University Architectural Competition:
12 Universities from 11 Countries Submit Proposals for Sustainable Architecture
Based on the Theme of a “RETREAT IN NATURE”

Announcing the Three Finalists:
Best Work to be decided on, April 20, Sat. (Plaza Hall, Kasumigaseki Building)
The LIXIL JS Foundation (located in Koto-ku, Tokyo; president: Yoichiro Ushioda) , which
undertakes surveys and research related to the housing and building materials industry, as wellas supporting the development of human resources, is actively engaged in the search andverification of next-generation sustainable housing. “The LIXIL International University
Architectural Competition” was established by the foundation in order to inform the wider publicof technological developments in the field. Total of twelve entrants from eleven countries
submitted proposals. Following an impartial screening of documents, the jurors selected three
universities to continue to the next round of the competition:■Three Finalists (listed in alphabetical order)
Name of Work
Name of University
Simply Adjustable
Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands)
HORIZON HOUSE
Harvard University (USA)kaze house
National University of Singapore (Singapore)Delft University of Technology
Simply Adjustable

Harvard University
HORIZON HOUSE

National University of Singapore
kaze house

Based on the theme of “RETREAT IN NATURE” and designed for a site in Memu Meadows(Taiki-cho, Hokkaido), the 3rd LIXIL International University Architectural Competition accepted
proposals from twelve designated universities from eleven different countries. In addition, for thefirst time in the history of the competition, each participating university is publishing its research
related to the theme on Facebook. By sharing views and values related to a variety ofenvironments rooted in specific climates and cultures, the participants developed their ideas torealize a proposal for a new kind of sustainable architecture. (For more information, please see:
http://www.facebook.com/LIXIL.IUAC)
Serving as the chairman of the open final screening is the internationally active architect
Kengo Kuma. Kuma has received a great deal of attention for his involvement in the Ginza
Kabukiza (jointly designed with Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei), which has recently opened after the1conclusion of the fifth phase of reconstruction. Also on the jury is Tomonari Yashiro, a doctor ofengineering and professor at the University of Tokyo, who also served as a judge in last year’scompetition; and Darko Radović, who oversaw Barn House, a proposal by a group of Keio
University students that was awarded the prize for best work in the second competition.
On April 20 (Sat), 2013, the open final screening will be held publicly at Plaza Hall in theKasumigaseki Building (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), and one of the three universities will be selected
as the competition winner. The winning submission will then be built on the site in Memu
Meadows.

*We have already closed registration of open final screening on April 7, Sun,. Please inquire of the above
mentioned contact if you like to attend.

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＜Reference Information＞■Open Final Screening
Date: April, 20, 2013, Sat. from 13:30 to 17:30
Site: Plaza Hall, Kasumigaseki Building 1F (3-2-5 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Review board:
Jury president: Kengo Kuma (architect / professor, University of Tokyo)
Jurors:Tomonari Yashiro (doctor of engineering / professor, University of Tokyo)
Darko Radović (architect / professor, Keio University)
List of participating universities(*◎: entrants that will advance to the open final screening stage on April 20):
Aalto University (Finland)
Dresden University of Technology (Germany)◎Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands)
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (Switzerland)
The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UK)
Vienna University of Technology (Austria)◎Harvard University (USA)
Tongji University (Singapore)◎National University of Singapore (Singapore)Hanoi Architectural University (Vietnam)
Kyoto University (Japan)
Hokkaido University (Japan)
Organizer: LIXIL JS Foundation
Cooperator: LIXIL Corporation Research Institute, Hokkaido Taiki Town
Supporter: Obihiro Development and Construction Dept. / Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau/ Hokkaido Government Tokachi General Subprefectural Bureau / Architectural Institute of Japan /The Japan Institute of Architects (JIA) / Japan Federation of Architects & Building Engineers
Associations / Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd.
Official website: www.lixiljsfound.or.jp/category/1835715.html
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LIXIL.IUAC■Outline of LIXIL International University Architectural Competition
The LIXIL International University Architectural Competition is a design competition hosted by
LIXIL JS Foundation for university research laboratories.
Situated on a site in the Memu Meadows of Hokkaido’s Taiki-cho, We seeks sustainablearchitectural solutions from nominative universities around the world.
The winning university will be responsible for the project throughout the construction phase.

3◆Memu Meadows
What are the challenges we must face in order to achieve a truly
prosperous society? With regard to housing, the problem is related
to energy efficiency, biomass, the realization of a low-carbon society,interior environment control, and the verification of earthquakeresistant structures. In order to address these issues, Memu
Meadows: Center for Research on Environmental Technologies,
was opened in Taiki, Hokkaido. The site of the Research Center
used to be farm land, where the existing housing and facilities wererenovated and refined to maintain the memory of the place. Taiki,with its harsh winter, is a fertile land of transient seasons. The nameof land, Memu, eloquently signifies a place where the fountain springs. On this land, together
with the Center's participants, we would like to search for a truly comfortable and hospitableliving environment.

■ Overview of Facility
Name: Memu Meadows
Location: 158-1 Memu, Taiko-cho, Hiro-gun, Obihiro, Hokkaido (on the former site of TaikiFarms)
Owner: LIXIL JS Foundation
2-1-1 Ojima, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 136-8535
Site area: App. 184,000 square meters
Main facilities: Experimental house “Même”, “BANGLADESH BANBOO PROJECT”, “A recipeto live”, “BARN HOUSE”, multipurpose hall, laboratory, three housing units (accommodationfor researchers), two log houses (accommodation for researchers), fitness center, restaurant,sauna, administrative building, etc.
URL: http://www.lixil.co.jp/s/taiki-cho/about/4