099 \The most interesting story was the year 2025, when there were no big jobs./
- MAKOTO TADOKORO
- Feb 4
- 3 min read
The year 2025 is almost over.
To be honest, this year I don't feel like I've "finished my run!"
Rather, it was a year in which we were able to see many things precisely because we were at a standstill.
She was working while raising her daughter, who was born last year, at home, which doubles as a laboratory.
Rather than an office, it's more like a secret base with architectural ideas and materials scattered around, so we've decided to call it Labo.
Due to the Trump tariffs that have been in place since last year and circumstances on the part of the client, housing projects in Hawaii have been halted.
As of the beginning of the year, there were no so-called "big jobs."
But now I think it was a really good thing.
There was time.
I was able to raise my children and think about how to "put into shape" the ideas that had been building up in my head.
I think this was a year where I didn't have to use being busy as an excuse.
The biggest turning point of the year
In the middle of 2025,
" Architecture Book Bridge Sri Lanka " is now in motion.
With the help of architects Shigeru Ban and Nobuaki Furuya,
This project delivers architecture books from around the world to students in the Department of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa, a national university in Sri Lanka, who have extremely few opportunities to come into contact with architecture books.
The idea itself has been around since last year.
But it was this year that I finally made up my mind and "set off."
It's faster to meet people in person than online
This project is entirely volunteer-based.
There's no way we can just sit back and raise funds and books.
We do announce things on social media, but the most effective way is to meet and talk in person.
Thankfully, I have about five jobs this year, including lectures and tours.
I was able to talk about this project in my own words to people I had just met.
This has often led to donations.
To be honest, there are a lot of people who are daydreaming on the internet. I can say this because I often find myself daydreaming too.
Search and social media are both driven by algorithms that are all about price and appearance.
Volunteering and other mundane, time-consuming activities tend to get overlooked.
That's why this year I've felt the power of meeting real people many times.
And on to 2026
I am so grateful to the people I met this year and the opportunities they gave me.
This trend is already continuing into 2026.
He has lectures and tours scheduled for the new year, and it looks like he'll be able to restart his Hawaii project, which had been put on hold.
What had been dots began to become lines.
Next year looks like it's going to be a good year.
2025 was a quiet year, but it was the most important year of my life. I want to be able to say that next year.
Happy New Year everyone
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