#Japan #Tokyo #Urban Development #Community Spaces #Landscape Design

Launch of the Landscape Management Design Office

The companies Ohdako Inc. and Yatsudesign LLC have announced the launch of a collaborative service dubbed the Landscape Management Design Office. This innovative initiative aims to integrate landscape design and management for various environments, including parks, residential areas, commercial properties, and underutilized public facilities throughout cities, suburbs, and rural regions.

Why Now? The Need for Integrated Landscape Management

Urban environments host numerous communal spaces such as public squares, parks, and green areas where people frequently gather. Suburban neighborhoods also have common areas in apartment complexes and shared residences that play an essential role in the residents' daily lives. Rural areas often possess untapped resources such as natural environments and historical landmarks that reflect the community's heritage.

Yet, while these spaces offer immense potential, there are often disconnects between simply existing and being actively engaged by their communities. Future developments in these areas require comprehensive thinking about who will use these spaces, how they will be engaged, and the operational frameworks that will keep the places thriving.

The Landscape Management Design Office emerges as a responsive solution to these challenges, intertwining landscape planning, design, management, and community relationship-building into a cohesive service.

Understanding Landscape & Management

The concept of landscape pertains to the physical elements that constitute a space, such as greenery, topography, pathways, and overall ambiance. Management, on the other hand, addresses the social and human factors necessary for sustaining the usage of these spaces, including relationship dynamics, operational systems, and ongoing improvements.

At the core of this initiative is the belief that landscape design and management should not be treated as separate entities. Instead, they should be viewed as complementary processes where resources and challenges of a site are thoughtfully considered. Through hypothesis testing via social experiments, these insights will inform designs that evolve over time, ultimately supporting the development of spaces that continue to be utilized.

What Sets Ohdako and Yatsudesign Apart

The Landscape Management Design Office distinguishes itself by restructuring processes that are traditionally viewed as isolated tasks into a continuous series of developmental steps. Here are some core features of the service:

1. Design with Operational Vision
Combining Yatsudesign's landscape design expertise and Ohdako's management and community development practices, the design phase takes users into account right from the planning stage.

2. Validation Through Social Experiments
Small-scale experiments will be employed to test initial concepts, allowing for feedback on user interactions and operational structures. The lessons learned will feed back into the design and management strategies, linking theory to practice.

3. Cross-Domain Implementation Ability
This initiative will address three main fields: urban voids, shared living spaces, and community resource hubs, tailoring each approach according to the specific context and needs of the area.

Focus Areas of the Landscape Management Design Office

1. Cultivating Urban Void Spaces

This focuses on public areas such as sidewalks, station plazas, and urban parks, creating environments that encourage social interaction, community activities, and engagement.

2. Cultivating Shared Living Spaces

This involves working with communal areas in residential complexes and neighborhoods, transforming them into assets that enhance residents' lives through active participation and care.

3. Cultivating Community Resource Hubs

This includes redeveloping underused public facilities, schools, and natural sites into community resource centers that foster exchanges, work initiatives, and local enterprise.

Four Service Plans Offered

Concept
Concept + Social Experiment
Concept + Social Experiment + Design
Concept + Social Experiment + Design + Operations

Main Achievements

• - Urban Void Cultivation: Takashimadaira Green Space, Shibuya Reverse Street
• - Shared Living Space Cultivation: Midorino Mirai, Gracia Yokohama Tokaichiba
• - Community Resource Hub Cultivation: Hinosato Living LABO, Hiratsuka Sea Terrace

Company Profiles

• - Ohdako Inc.: Led by CEO Keisuke Yoshida, focused on park management, planting management, social experiments, and local enterprise development.

• - Yatsudesign LLC: Led by Junichiro Kobayashi, specializing in research, concept development, planning, and design concerning landscapes.

For further information or inquiries, please contact the Landscape Management Design Office at Ohdako Inc. × Yatsudesign LLC via email at [email protected] or phone at 070-9325-5553.

Upcoming Talk Session

In conjunction with the launch, there will be a public talk session titled "How Are Sustainable Spaces Nurtured?" to discuss the future of space development across urban, suburban, and rural areas. This event is free, with limited seating and will take place on September 2, 2026, from 18:30 to 20:30 at the Ohdako Tokyo Branch. To secure your spot, please register through our application form.