Architect Yoichiro Ikeda heads the architectural planning department of Ikeda. This firm with many years of experience in commercial projects is engaged in the development of interior design. In 2015, Ikeda implemented BIM solutions at all stages of the firm's work using the ARCHICAD program®… We spoke with Yoichiro Ikeda and Haruyuki Yokoyama about their latest renovation project for Itoya, one of the largest office supply stores in Japan, and the use of BIM solutions for interior design in their work.
Simultaneous reconstruction of stores
“This is the second project where we have used ARCHICAD at all stages: from sketch to detailed design. But the complexity of this project is that the work was carried out in three stores at the same time,”Ikeda explained. Itoya, a popular and well-known Japanese company, has been working in the stationery industry since 1904. It has nine stores across the country, with two of its main stores located in Tokyo's central Ginza district. The company placed an order for the renovation of two flagship stores and one store in Yokohama, for a total of five floors.
The renovation of the Yokohama store was carried out in parallel with the renovation of the shopping center that housed the store. In stores, each floor is reserved for a specific type of product, for example, expensive writing supplies or notebooks.
To complicate the project, the company wanted to relocate the floors in Tokyo stores: to move the first and second floors of K. Itoya to the third floor of G. Itoya, and the third and fourth floors of G. Itoya to the third floor of K. Itoya. The renovation of all these floors was carried out at the same time. The Ginza store refurbishment included redesigning the shelves and display cabinets without changing the floor, walls, ceiling and lighting. In addition, the project had to be completed on a tight schedule.
“The first meeting with the customer took place at the end of June. The opening of the Yokohama store was scheduled for September 1, the G. Itoya store on September 10, and the K. Itoya store on September 24. We had to complete the design plan by August in order to still have time to design the furniture. In addition, we listened to the opinion of the customer, who had a clear idea of the required functions and design."
Ikeda admits that he sometimes wondered if they could submit a project on time. However, despite the tight deadlines, all work went through without delay, and the customer was satisfied with the result.
The project has been a success thanks to the recent implementation of BIM solutions using ARCHICAD. “Without ARCHICAD, we might not have met the deadline. If we were still using 2DCAD, we would run the risk of not having time to present the design model to the customer in movement and visualization mode. In addition, it would be difficult for a customer to evaluate our design proposal based on initial developments only,”said Ikeda, who uses ARCHICAD in his work. Ikeda and Yokoyama explained the benefits of using BIM solutions for an interior design company.
Design development with BIM solutions
“Typically, the architectural design process includes an architectural design stage, followed by a stage with a more detailed study of the drawings - detailed design. However, we have a different approach than most architectural companies in Japan, and between these stages we introduce an intermediate stage."
At this stage, the design model is complemented with textures and finishing materials, which creates more detailed graphics than 2D drawings, and allows customers to clearly understand the intent of the project developers from the very beginning. Ikeda Architecture strives to incorporate a design revision phase into almost all of its projects. The company works not only with 2D drawings, but also creates 3D models, and also uses the real color scheme and texture of finishing materials in the floor plan, in order to present the design project to the customer as clearly as possible.
“Thanks to the design development stage, we are able to understand the customer's position from the very beginning and apply the knowledge gained to create a more harmonious design. Thus, we can avoid claims and modifications, and the customer at the same time feels his involvement in the creation of the design,”Ikeda notes. However, the finalization of the design takes time, and here the use of BIM solutions comes to the fore - the ARCHICAD program, which will significantly speed up the workflow. Everything in this project, including the furniture, was designed with ARCHICAD. After the first meeting with the customer, the firm's specialists were able to plan the overall space and develop the furniture design, and at the second meeting - to present the visualization and the design model in movement mode using BIMx.
“The designers found it very convenient to work with 3D models, since the layout was easily visible, which made it easier to navigate the projected space. That is why ARCHICAD is great for interior design. Haruyuki Yokoyama, architect.
“During one of the meetings, the director of the client's company even approached the image that was being projected on the wall and made changes to it,” says Ikeda.
Such design revision meetings were held several times, and each time changes were made, which were then quickly transferred to the project using ARCHICAD. The customer was presented with the modified 3D models for approval, while the architect had the opportunity to easily and quickly communicate with the customer and exactly fulfill all his wishes. “The use of ARCHICAD allowed us not only to establish communication with the customer, but also to work out design solutions,” says Yokoyama.
“The designers found it very convenient to work with 3D models, since the layout was easily visible, which made it easier to navigate in space. That is why ARCHICAD is great for interior design. It does not have all the tools for design development, but 2D drawings obtained from 3D models greatly simplify our work. I designed all the furniture and decorations in ARCHICAD,”says Yokoyama.
The 3D models of furniture and decorative elements created for the project are stored in the database of 3D objects.
“If the customer needs to make any changes, we can quickly find the models we need,” says Ikeda.
One step closer to virtual reality
Reflecting on the reason for the project's success, Ikeda puts ARCHICAD at the heart of the creative process.
“Our goal is to use ARCHICAD at all stages of the workflow, from sketching to detailing drawings. Few firms do this, but I think we need to make the most of the opportunities presented to us. Ikeda believes that not only the company's workflow and better fulfillment of customers' wishes depend on BIM, but also the future of architectural design in general.
“We will soon be using virtual reality technology to present design projects and fully navigate the model in real time. In other words, evaluating interior design projects using virtual reality technologies will become the norm. In my opinion, BIM is a step in this direction. That is why I want to implement BIM solutions in the work of our company and fully study this technology in order to subsequently guide the company along the path of technological progress."
About Ikeda Architecture
Firoma was founded in 2010 and specializes in commercial and retail projects with a focus on interior design. She has a wealth of experience in the design of shops, office buildings, office renovation, guest complexes and sites.
About GRAPHISOFT
GRAPHISOFT Company® revolutionized the BIM in 1984 with ARCHICAD® Is the industry's first BIM solution for architects in the CAD industry. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the architectural software market with innovative products such as BIMcloud ™, the world's first real-time collaborative BIM design solution, EcoDesigner ™, the world's first fully integrated energy modeling and energy efficiency assessments of buildings and BIMx® Is the leading mobile app for showcasing and presenting BIM models. Since 2007, GRAPHISOFT has been part of the Nemetschek Group.
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