Kumataiichi thinks about architecture from both the hardware and software perspectives, and has worked on numerous residential spaces and stores, mainly in Tokyo. On the top floor of SHAREtenjincho, the shared house where Kumataiichi's room is located, is a shared living area where residents can cook, eat, and relax.
However, one day, someone put a game console in the TV space, and residents started gathering there with only controllers. Before you knew it, the space had transformed into a "gaming living room."
The participants on this day were two architects, an engineer, and a musician. "Is it Mario Kart after all?" "Yes, it is."
"What's great about it is that it's not like, 'Let's all get together and play a party game!' It just starts up randomly, and it's a relaxed atmosphere where you can join and leave at any time. Some people just come to watch while eating."
According to Kuma-san, games are a low-threshold communication tool.
"When I'm playing games, I can casually talk about things like recent updates and deeper topics. It doesn't feel awkward even if I don't say anything, and it makes it easier to communicate with people from other countries."
Do games have an influence on Kuma-san's work?
"I've been addicted to games since I was a child, so maybe that's why I like architecture with a story and spaces that are easy for everyone to participate in. For example, the Mario game itself is simple, but it's interesting because Mario has a 'face that draws people in.' I think that kind of face is necessary in architecture as well, to move people, to connect people with each other, and people with the city."
