TOTO

Exhibition Concept
POLITICS OF LIVING

For us, the POLITICS OF LIVING refers to the dynamics of creating small autonomous spaces. LIVING refers to daily experiences through direct interactions. POLITICS is not a centralized system of indirect democracy but the power to create more localized autonomous spaces with both will and compromise and to autonomously generate individual lives imbued with diverse idiosyncrasies instead of lives equalized according to information, statistics, and future predictions.
Let's find a way to live together from our daily life on the ground. Let's think based on the tangible reality of everyday life, and create with our hands. Every little thing, every place, or a tiny part of it, is connected to our lives. Architecture is open to all.
dot architects has its base in a former factory site in the industrial area in the southern part of Osaka City. Together with a diverse circle of close colleagues and accessible resources gained through various encounters, we engage in diverse activities, including architectural design and construction, events, film, theater, performance, leisure time, bartending, farm work, etc., and create places where everyone can participate without distinction, with the idea of the POLITICS OF LIVING.
We hope dot architects' activities will inspire viewers to stop entrusting their lives and enjoyment to services in exchange for money, breaking free from the body accustomed to sophisticated capitalist products, and say confidently, "Hey, we can do something like this ourselves. Let's go for it!" Through this exhibition, we hope to realize one such place.
dot architects
Exhibitor Profile
dot architects
Toshikatsu Ienari and Takeshi Shakushiro co-founded dot architects in 2004. Their activity base is at Coop Kitakagaya, a "collaborative studio dedicated to putting into practice an alternative society" in Kitakagaya, Osaka, where people and organizations across all fields come together. They work with diverse collaborators, both professionals and non-professionals, in the design and construction process. Their activities extends beyond architectural design to on-site construction, research, and art projects.
From Left: Ryosuke Katsube, Wataru Doi, Keiko Miyachi, Ai Ikeda, Takeshi Shakushiro, Toshikatsu Ienari.
(Photographed March 2023)
Toshikatsu Ienari
Born in 1974 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Ienari graduated from the Department of Law, Faculty of Law, Kansai University. He also completed the Evening Course at Osaka College of Technology (OCT).
Ienari started his design practice while studying at OCT.
Professor at the Department of Spatial Design, Kyoto University of the Arts.
Takeshi Shakushiro
Born in 1974 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Shakushiro graduated from the Department of Environmental Design, Kobe Design University.
He started his design practice after working at Rikuo Kitamura + Zoom Architect & Associates and Katsuhiro Miyamoto & Associates.
Specially Appointed Lecturer at Osaka College of Technology.
Lecturer at the Department of Environment Design, Kyoto University of the Arts. 
Lecturer at the Department of Housing and Environmental Design, Osaka City University.
Wataru Doi
Born in 1987 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Doi completed the Master's Program at Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University.
He joined dot architects after working at Studio Mumbai.
Ai Ikeda
Born in 1979 in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Ikeda graduated from the Department of Residential Architecture and Environmental Science, Nara Women's University. She completed the Evening Course at Osaka College of Technology.
Ikeda completed her diploma at East London University.
She joined dot architects after working at the ICU Architects Office and Urbanform Architect Office.
Keiko Miyachi
Born in 1982 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Miyachi graduated from the Department of Spatial Design, Kyoto University of Art and Design (KUAD).
She worked at KUAD and as a freelancer before joining dot architects.
Ryosuke Katsube
Born in 1997 in Shiga Prefecture.
Katsube joined dot architects after graduating from the Department of Architecture and Building Science, Yokohama National University.
Asuka Kobayashi
Born in 1999 in Hyogo, Japan.
Graduated from Showa Women’s University with a Master’s degree in Environmental Design Studies, Graduate School of Living Organization. Joined dot architects in 2023.