#Japan #Omiya #evoltz #earthquake resistance #wooden houses

From Calculating to Judging: An Innovative Approach to Earthquake Resistance Design

In recent years, the market for home renovation and remodeling in Japan has shown a slight increase. However, the devastating Kumamoto earthquake in 2016 and the upcoming Noto Peninsula earthquake in 2024 have raised awareness about earthquake resistance, leading more builders to adopt seismic grade 3 standards and perform structural calculations. Yet, many practitioners in the remodeling sector face significant challenges due to the complexity of existing buildings, resulting in hesitation regarding calculations and reinforcement designs.

Given Japan's status as an earthquake-prone country, enhancing the seismic resistance of existing wooden houses is an imperative task. To achieve the goal of increasing the number of resilient homes, it’s crucial to cultivate a workforce capable of implementing effective earthquake-resistant measures. In this context, the new practical online community titled "Structural Accompaniment: Earthquake Resistance Edition" has been launched by evoltz architectural office, led by Kohei Hayakawa, and HIROMOKU Structural Design, represented by Hiroki Tonari. This community specifically targets beginners in seismic diagnosis and reinforcement design, particularly those who may feel uncertain in their practical skills.

Purpose of the Community: Fostering Decision-Making Skills

The mission of this community goes beyond merely teaching how to input data into software. It aims to cultivate skills that empower participants to understand the reasoning behind every input and the necessity for specific reinforcements. The goal is to develop individuals capable of making informed decisions and providing appropriate directives on-site. This shift from mere calculation to informed judgment marks a crucial evolution in the design process.

Community Features

The community offers several key services to enhance learning and practical application:

• - Bi-monthly Online Study Sessions: Regular sessions held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month from 13:30 to 14:30, focusing on practical knowledge-sharing and access to archived video content.
• - Facebook Group for Questioning: A dedicated Facebook group where members can seek answers to specific real-world questions posed in their practice, receiving input from both instructors and fellow members.
• - Sharing Field Insights: Members will be educated on common missed reinforcement points and the proper methods to address questions that arise on-site. Moreover, field visit opportunities for members are planned to enrich learning further.

Service Overview

• - Name: Structural Accompaniment - Earthquake Resistance Edition
• - Goal: To nurture individuals capable of conducting seismic diagnoses and reinforcement designs independently, exuding confidence in their directives on-site.
• - Target Audience: This program is tailored for beginners comfortable with inputting data into seismic diagnosis software (e.g., HOMES-kun) but feeling insecure about calculation outcomes and field engagement.
• - Cost: Monthly fee of 11,000 JPY (tax included)
• - Start Date: April 10, 2026 (Initial session will be held in Omiya followed by a networking event)

Instructor Profiles

Kohei Hayakawa

As the managing architect of evoltz architectural office, Kohei Hayakawa is a certified first-class architect. He has extensive experience in both earthquake-resistant renovations and new structural calculations, focusing on training the next generation of technical professionals.

Hiroki Tonari

Hiroki Tonari represents HIROMOKU, a structural design office. His expertise lies primarily in two-by-four construction, extending his work to residential and medium-sized facilities. He also shares insights on structure and seismic resistance through various platforms as "Two-by-Man Hiroki."

Founders’ Message

Our vision is to establish a future where the seismic performance of wooden houses is considered standard in Japan. We aim to go beyond the basic building codes and strive to create homes that remain standing during earthquakes, allowing residents to continue their lives without disruption. To realize this vision, we are committed to increasing the number of designers who can manage structures not as special entities but as practical tools in their design arsenal.

For further inquiries regarding this initiative, please contact the Structural Accompaniment Office at [email protected].