Towards a Better Office Building.

Buildings use more fossil fuels and contribute more greenhouse gas emissions than cars. In fact, buildings and construction contribute to half of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. When building design considers factors such as sun exposure and access to fresh air and natural light, less energy (and money) will be consumed. Better yet, building occupants will be more comfortable and happy.

Solar panels on this office building near Shibuya capture energy and shade the building from the intense afternoon sun.

Office BBQs Made Easy.
Look closely at this building (above) in Akihabara, and you may see something that you've never seen before: an office building with screened-in open-air balconies. While these spaces leave something to be desired, they are still better than the conventional hermetically sealed office buildings that most of us know and hate.

Fat, Dumb, and Unhappy.
Office buildings with fat floor plates, like this one near Ginza, should be a thing of the past. Germany, for instance, requires that each worker have access to natural light and fresh air (i.e, operable windows). This has resulted in thinner office buildings, which ultimately use less energy and provide greater worker comfort (and yes, productivity).

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