7-1 The Era of the Technological Big Bang: 1970–2000 —The Realization of “The Limits to Growth” Begins—

Twenty-five years after the end of the war, and having experienced a period of rapid economic growth, Japan entered a 30-year era—from Showa 45 (1970) to Heisei 12 (2000)—during which society and technology expanded at a pace reminiscent of the Big Bang.In Showa 45 (1970), a pivotal year, Nikken Sekkei Construction Co., Ltd. changed its name to “Nikken Sekkei, Ltd.” It was also in this year that the English designation “planners/architects/engineers” was first adopted.
In Heisei 12 (2000), Nikken Sekkei published *The Technology of Design: 100 Years of Nikken Sekkei*. This book compiles the technical initiatives in various fields of urban planning and architectural design accumulated from the 1970s through the 1990s; the table of contents is shown in the upper right.
Professor Emeritus Yoshichika Uchida of the University of Tokyo, who served as the general supervisor for this book, stated: “Beyond being merely the technical history of a single architectural firm, this book examines the history of Japanese architectural technology from a fixed perspective.”The book attempts to provide as comprehensive a technical history as possible—from the modern to the contemporary era—regarding cities and architecture, while highlighting the values and social demands of the time.

Showa 45 (1970) was also the year the World’s Fair was held in the Senri Hills of Osaka. The theme of this World’s Fair was “Human Progress and Harmony,” and the word “harmony” included in the theme seems to reflect the nature of society from that era onward.In Showa 47 (1972), the Club of Rome published *The Limits to Growth*, and it can be said that around this time, the era of “awareness of the Earth’s finite resources” began.Now, more than 40 years later, despite technological innovations such as fuel cells and shale oil, the predictions and recommendations contained in *The Limits to Growth* have only become more credible.
The challenge of “how to utilize the Earth’s resources while maintaining a comfortable living environment” has led to the development of various energy-saving technologies.In large-scale planning initiatives such as urban development, district heating and cooling systems—which enable efficient energy use—have become widely adopted. Furthermore, drawing on the lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in Heisei 7 (1995), efforts are now being made toward urban disaster prevention, the preservation of aquatic environments, and the creation of green cities.

In tandem with the growing scale and complexity of society, the field of architecture has also seen the emergence of large-scale projects that integrate a wide range of functions. In such large-scale, multifunctional projects, various innovative solutions have been devised. For example, spaces known as “atriums”—which feature large, open atriums that allow natural light to enter—have emerged to bring vitality and clarity to buildings. Furthermore, as the need arose for arenas and auditoriums capable of accommodating large crowds, structural, acoustic, and HVAC technologies evolved during this era to enable the creation of various types of large-scale spaces.

Although Japan experienced the oil crisis in the 1970s, the Japanese economy entered a period of stable growth following the expansion of exports in the 1980s, steadily building its international competitiveness. Office environments also began to be expected to meet international standards.
As awareness grew that offices are also living spaces, demand for “high-quality offices” increased.Technologies related to office space planning, high-rise building design, exterior design, and IT integration have all evolved. Despite the ups and downs of the bubble economy, these technologies continue to evolve today, supported by the growing demand for high-quality offices in urban areas.

As if leaping forward from the 1960s—a decade still burdened by the aftermath of wartime reconstruction—Japanese society and the economy have undergone qualitative changes accompanying their expansion since the 1970s. And, as if in response to these changes, the fields of urban planning and architecture have experienced a technological expansion that could be described as a “technological Big Bang.”
Nikken Sekkei has grown since its founding based on its core competency as an architectural design firm, but amid a rapidly changing society, a movement emerged within the company to ask, “Who are we?” and “Where are we headed?”Consequently, led by the next generation of leaders, a vision was formulated with a time horizon extending to 2020—approximately 30 years from then.

In this report, compiled in Heisei 4 (1992), the company defines itself with a clear vision: “a group of experts pioneering the cutting edge of social environment design.” From the perspective of consumers, the company aims to expand and enhance the scope of its design services while building a broad network.
In subsequent years, seven group companies were established, forming the Nikken Group—a collection of companies each maximizing their capabilities within their respective fields of expertise—and the seeds of this development can be seen in this report.

(References)
Nikken Sekkei (2000), *The Art of Design: 100 Years of Nikken Sekkei*, Nikken Sekkei
Takayuki Hashimoto (1999), *From 13 Kitahama 5-chome*, Sogensha