Talk Series 36
Reclaiming Complexity: How Digital Tools Enable Adaptive Reuse and Material Circularity
Speaker:
Toshikatsu Kiuchi
Summary:
In societies such as Japan—confronting structural challenges ahead of others after a period of sustained economic growth and entering an era of population decline—focus is shifting from the mass production of new buildings to the promotion of resource circularity. This entails the effective use of existing structures and reusable materials within a high-mix, low-volume framework. The session explores how digital technologies, including 3D scanning, can be strategically integrated to reinterpret the inherent complexities of existing environments and reclaimed materials as valuable social and cultural resources, providing practical insights into assembling widely available tools into low-cost yet adaptable solutions.
This talk was delivered online on 13 November 2025. Talk duration is 44 minutes.
Speaker Bio:
Toshikatsu Kiuchi is a Project Associate Professor at the Kyoto Institute of Technology and an architect, serving as Co-Representative of SUNAKI Inc. His works bridge experimentation and practice, pursuing a critical yet practical integration of novel digital technologies, tacit knowledge of materials, and artisanal techniques. Major works include Adaptive Design and Assembly System Utilizing Reclaimed Timbers (SD Review 2024, Kajima Prize). He has also participated in the Japan Pavilion exhibitions at the 17th and 19th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia.
CPD Details:
This talk is offered as a formal CPD activity for architects, mapped to performance criteria PC18 and PC31 in the Australian 2021 National Standard of Competencies for Architects.
A copy of the CPD questions can be accessed here. If you take notes in digital format during the video, you will be able to copy/paste your answers into the questionnaire at the end.
Upon completion of the video, a link to the CPD questionnaire will be unlocked. Submit your answers via that link to earn 1 formal CPD point and receive your certificate for record-keeping purposes. Note: The questionnaire link will only load if the video is viewed from this webpage. If you navigate to YouTube to view the video, you will not be able to access it.