a+u February 2025 Special Issue Encyclopedia of Nikken

Featuring around 380 projects, this special issue introduces Nikken Sekkei in an encyclopaedic format - an effort to explore the long-standing Japanese firm's own design strategies. Here, they focus on gathering unique ideas and unformed architectural concepts from each individual affiliate or group. These ideas are collected and categorised as Nikken Design Goals (NDG). The featured projects reflect the firm's commitment to addressing societal challenges through architecture, while also revealing its current limitations. In short, it represents Nikken Sekkei's approach to broad design, where all members - not just those in architectural design - engage in creative practice.