Life Science Code Monumint by Takumi Takahashi

Life Science Code Monumint by Takumi Takahashi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award yn Platina in Skoane Keunsten en Keunstynstalaasje Ûntwerp Competition Category.

PlatinaSkoane Keunst· 2025

Life Science Code Monumint

by Takumi Takahashi

Client: Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

A' Design Award yn Platina Winner in Skoane Keunst Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Life Science Code Monumint

Dit monumint drukket de ûnthâld út fan de Libbenswittenskip, basearre op de genoomsekwinsje fan DNA, de basis fan de Libbenswittenskip. It genoom is it ûnthâld fan it libben fan syn oarsprong ôf oant no ta, en it monumint befettet natuerobjekten dy't minsken fersoarge hawwe, en hânwurk dat troch de ieuwen hinne yn Japan trochjoûn is, as spoaren fan it libben. By it oanrekken fan de oarsprongen dy't minsken opboud hawwe, ferlichemet it monumint de riedsels fan de libbenswittenskip dy't ûntbleate binne troch minsklike ûnthâlden.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award yn Platina

Life Science Code Monumint is in winner fan de A' Design Award yn Platina, in ekstreem prestisjeuze erkenning foar wier útsûnderlike, elegante en prachtige ûntwerpen. Platina-winners binne wûnders fan skepping, tsjûgenissen fan de grinzen fan yntellektuele kreativiteit, en litte it ûnevenaardige profesjonalisme en sjeny fan har ûntwerpers sjen. Fan dizze ûntwerpen wurdt ferwachte dat se de meast ferneamde wurken binne dy't de estetyk fan in tiidrek bepale, bydrage oan it wolwêzen fan de maatskippij en de grinzen fan keunst, wittenskip, ûntwerp en technology ferlegge. Life Science Code Monumint lit in transsendint nivo fan treflikens sjen en makket de wrâld sûnder mis ta in bettere plak mei syn foardielige en weardefolle skaaimerken. Life Science Code Monumint is in winnend wurk fan de A' Design Award yn Platina dat winsken wekker makket, ynspirearret, entûsjasmearret, behaachet en grutte freugde opwekket.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Chugai Pharmaceutical's Life Science Park commissioned a monument to convey the mysteries and unknown possibilities of life science. As life science now drives drug creation by unlocking genomic information from human DNA, the monument compiles diverse memories etched in our DNA. This includes natural materials evoking Life and materials created by human hands, representing Science, aiming to embody the essence and potential of life science.
Dimensions & Packaging: This 6m x 1.5m x 2.2m monument embodies human and Earth memories. Its design, based on the human genome sequence, integrates diverse materials: ancient stones, local flora, native trees and medicinal herbs. A transparent stone base, evoking water as the source of life, is illuminated from within, highlighting the genome's varied expressions. The DNA derived design reveals life's mystery through shifting perspectives.
Tags: monument, life science, design, Art, hakuten, memory, Life Science Code
Production Technology: This monument crystallizes memories from nature, technology, and culture, archiving them for future generations. It juxtaposes normally incompatible memories, creating a unique landscape and prompting reflection on sustainability. Wood scraps were recycled into furniture, and metal scraps were reused, embodying circularity.
Design Challenge: This monument, while not directly generating profit, aims to inspire and provide spiritual support to life science researchers. It expresses the invisible mysteries of life science, a field filled with the unexplained, where researchers strive to improve human well-being. By touching the depths of people's hearts, this monument hopes to bring color and inspiration to their work, supporting their challenge against the mysterious world of life science.
Research: We were deeply moved to realize that our own DNA contains the inherited memories of the earth. Therefore, we carefully investigated various memories up to now, and collected a wide variety of memories, including natural objects created over a long period of time, human culture and technology, and memories of Chugai's pharmaceuticals.
Inspiration: Chugai's Life Science Park commissioned a monument to convey life science's profound mysteries. The design, mirroring drug creation through genome analysis, uses human genome sequences. The resulting patterns evoke life's beauty and complexity, encoding evolution and human essence. Integrating time-nurtured memories, the monument embodies life's enigmatic mystery. It stands as a testament to the intricate and beautiful nature of life, revealed through the very code that defines us.
Project Duration: This project was completed in May 2024
It is located at Chugai's new research facility in Totsuka, Kanagawa, Japan.
Operation Flow: Researchers viewing this monument can draw inspiration from its unique landscape, filled with memories from nature, technology, and culture. Viewers' reflections become part of the monument, symbolizing the present moment alongside diverse memories. It aims to convey that genomes exist within us, hinting at unknown possibilities.
Team Members: Design：Takumi Takahashi, HAKUTEN
Structural design : Naoki Iwama, Iwama Design
Metal hardware design and production : Kenichi Ochiai, Ochiai Seisakusho
Creative direction for the forest : Chikako Kadoi, Bears Dance in the Hida Forest
Product Management : Kumazaki Kohei, HAKUTEN
Produce : Masako Takahama, HAKUTEN
Image Credits: Photo by :Nacasa ＆ Partners Inc. | Akira Arai