Making Things After COVID-19, as Envisioned by an Architecture-Tech Startup

VUILD Inc. (“VUILD”), an architecture-tech startup that aims to transform the construction industry through digital technology, will announce “EMARF 3.0” on May 27, a cloud service that makes it possible to make architectural things from home in the post-COVID era.

In the architecture and design industry, as in other industries, there is an accelerating shift toward avoiding direct contact with outside parties as much as possible and working from home wherever possible. At the same time, however, the industry has many tasks that require going on site and are not suited to remote work.

Ahead of the announcement of “EMARF 3.0,” VUILD will therefore hold online events on post-COVID ways of working. Leading experts in their respective fields will join as guests, with VUILD CEO Akiyoshi as moderator, to explore hints for transforming the architecture and design industry.

On Wednesday, May 20, the guest will be Yuki Hamada, Director and CINO of Mercari, Inc.; on Friday, May 22, Shota Nakagawa, CEO of Caster Inc., which has run its organization with fully remote work since its founding; and on Wednesday, May 27, an event featuring prominent architects and structural engineers is planned.

The architecture and design industry has been one where professions are fragmented, production is centralized and focused on mass production, and going on site is taken for granted. What ways of working, based on entirely different values, will the post-COVID era demand? These events will explore the future one step ahead.

<Launch events>
▼Wednesday, May 20, 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Theme: Democratizing selling / democratizing making
As we learn to live with COVID-19, services that can empower individuals to live autonomous lives are in demand. By learning from Mercari, which was quick to succeed in democratizing selling, we hope to find hints for transforming the construction industry.
Guest: Yuki Hamada (Director and CINO, Mercari, Inc.)
Venue: VUILD Inc. official YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/-rSIPGSxyfI)
Event page URL: https://openvuild0520.peatix.com/

▼Friday, May 22, 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Theme: Working remotely / making remotely
The assumption that “working” means going to the office is now being reconsidered. What, then, about “making,” where going on site has always been taken for granted?
Guest: Shota Nakagawa (CEO, Caster Inc.)
Venue: VUILD Inc. official YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/V7fhNXUMEnI)
Event page URL: http://ptix.at/2TpAPX

▼Wednesday, May 27, 7:00 p.m. (tentative)
Theme: Making architecture after COVID-19 (working title)
*Details will be announced as soon as they are decided.

*Details will be announced as soon as they are decided.

“EMARF 3.0,” which will become available on May 27, has been the subject of beta trial sessions and web seminars for architectural design professionals since this spring.
Participants in the beta trial sessions included Nomura Co., Ltd., a major Japanese display design company, as well as architectural design firms such as ON design partners, SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE Co., Ltd. and 辻琢磨建築企画事務所, who gave us a wide range of advice. Here is a look at those sessions.

<EMARF 3.0 beta trial session report>
https://note.com/vuild/n/n4d80ce47e1f7

<EMARF 3.0 teaser site>
https://emarf.co

<Introducing EMARF 3.0>
https://note.com/vuild/n/n6b3386cf45e7

[VUILD Inc.]
Representative: Koki Akiyoshi (CEO)
Founded: November 21, 2017
Head office: unico 1F-A, 3-4 Nisshincho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Business: Architectural design, development and manufacturing of wooden products, sales of CNC routers, digital talent development, business development support, IT service development
URL: https://vuild.co.jp/
note: https://note.com/vuild