
Across Japan, traditional timber craftsmanship is rapidly becoming an endangered practice. Preserving this knowledge is urgent; yet doing so requires not only documentation but also reinterpretation. While digitally fabricated components are sometimes criticised for lacking the warmth and individuality of handcraft, we aim to challenge this assumption by incorporating found materials and site-specific elements into digital production.
We take inspiration from the concept of 一期一会 (ichigo-ichie) – the appreciation of unique, unrepeatable moments – and pose the question: Can traditional, standardised timber techniques be translated into digital fabrication in a way that accommodates unpredictability, locality, and personal memory?
This investigation has broader relevance beyond Japan. As many European nations shift from masonry toward timber construction, demand for skilled labour is outstripping supply. Partial digitalisation of building processes is becoming unavoidable. The next generation of designers must therefore navigate between tradition and technological innovation. This programme positions itself at this critical intersection, offering a transferable methodology for translating Japanese timber traditions into contemporary digital fabrication.
The workshop will be organised into three sequential components:
Erika Suzuki is from Tokyo, Japan, where she started training as an architect at Tokyo Metropolitan University. After completing a BEng and MEng in architecture, Erika moved to London and completed her Diploma and Master's at the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL). She has worked for internationally renowned architects such as Pritzker Prize-winner Shigeru Ban and award-winning London practices such as Takero Shimazaki Architects prior to starting Office Ten Architecture together with Anders Luhr in 2017. Erika teaches at the AA and lectures at many other universities and events.
Anders Strand Luhr is an architect and cofounder of Office Ten Architecture, established in 2017. He focuses on creating accessible and diverse architectural designs that aim to improve the lives of clients and communities. Luhr is also involved in the Greenest House movement, which aims to upgrade and retrofit existing homes to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability. Office Ten created an initiative called Greenest House which has been exhibited at Venice Biennale 2025.
The programme is open to university undergraduate level and beyond. Software requirements are: Rhino (SR7 or later), Grasshopper and Adobe Creative Suite.
Applications for this programme will open soon.
Fees will not include flights and accommodation, but accommodation options can be advised.
Students will need to bring their own laptops, digital equipment and model making tools.
Applications for this programme will open soon.