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Architectural Informatics Lab

Yasushi Ikeda Laboratory

Phygital Working Environment

Members: Eri Sumitomo, Shimono Akari, Liguo Wang, Yuki Watanabe

With the widespread adoption of digital tools, workers can now work productively without being physically present in the office. As a result, the question of why people need to come together is being revisited.When people gather, distinctive value is created—ranging from innovation driven by collaboration to enhanced well-being. These outcomes can only be fully realized through in-person interaction. To enable this value, organizations require environments that naturally bring people together and encourage engagement—spaces that function as “hubs” where collaboration and relationships can develop organically.

With the widespread adoption of digital tools, workers can now work productively without being physically present in the office. As a result, the question of why people need to come together is being revisited.When people gather, distinctive value is created—ranging from innovation driven by collaboration to enhanced well-being. These outcomes can only be fully realized through in-person interaction. To enable this value, organizations require environments that naturally bring people together and encourage engagement—spaces that function as “hubs” where collaboration and relationships can develop organically.

This year, in order to clarify what kind of environment truly functions as a “hub” that naturally attracts people, we conducted the following two initiatives:1. case studies and analysis of innovation centers, and 2. case studies and analysis of proposed approaches to how people interact with information in the workplace. Our research revealed that innovation centers both incorporate a wide range of measures designed to support collaboration and well-being. However, many of these examples tend to focus primarily on the design of the physical space itself.

This year, in order to clarify what kind of environment truly functions as a “hub” that naturally attracts people, we conducted the following two initiatives:1. case studies and analysis of innovation centers, and 2. case studies and analysis of proposed approaches to how people interact with information in the workplace. Our research revealed that innovation centers both incorporate a wide range of measures designed to support collaboration and well-being. However, many of these examples tend to focus primarily on the design of the physical space itself.

In reality, the spark of innovation often lies in the "in-between" moments—the critical transitions between distinct activities. This includes the shift from casual chat to structured ideation, or moving from focused desk work to collaborative standing sessions. A significant challenge in modern workspace design is fostering the coexistence of diverse needs, such as balancing those who require deep focus with those seeking active communication. Furthermore, the rise of hybrid work has introduced new complexities in harmonizing physical and digital modes. For instance, if remote participants are on a monitor in a face-to-face meeting, it can disrupt the room’s immersion and break the team's natural rhythm. True innovation depends on more than just the physical layout or functionality of a space. The real, often overlooked opportunity lies in how we manage transitions and seamlessly bridge different work modes and individual personalities.

In reality, the spark of innovation often lies in the "in-between" moments—the critical transitions between distinct activities. This includes the shift from casual chat to structured ideation, or moving from focused desk work to collaborative standing sessions. A significant challenge in modern workspace design is fostering the coexistence of diverse needs, such as balancing those who require deep focus with those seeking active communication. Furthermore, the rise of hybrid work has introduced new complexities in harmonizing physical and digital modes. For instance, if remote participants are on a monitor in a face-to-face meeting, it can disrupt the room’s immersion and break the team's natural rhythm. True innovation depends on more than just the physical layout or functionality of a space. The real, often overlooked opportunity lies in how we manage transitions and seamlessly bridge different work modes and individual personalities.

Next, we investigated and analyzed how individuals connect with and utilize information, aiming to define the future of information engagement in the workplace. Our analysis mapped various case studies along two key axes: "Recipient" (Shared vs. Private) and "Level of Consciousness" (Aware vs. Ambient). Recently, AI has made it possible to provide "personalized information within a collective setting," even in physical environments. Furthermore, we are seeing a rise in information delivery where the environment acts as a background—subtly fostering the right atmosphere for the task at hand and allowing workers to flow into their activities intuitively. While these two areas are often overlooked in conventional workplace design, we believe they hold the key to facilitating smooth transitions and enabling the coexistence of diverse work modes.

Next, we investigated and analyzed how individuals connect with and utilize information, aiming to define the future of information engagement in the workplace. Our analysis mapped various case studies along two key axes: "Recipient" (Shared vs. Private) and "Level of Consciousness" (Aware vs. Ambient). Recently, AI has made it possible to provide "personalized information within a collective setting," even in physical environments. Furthermore, we are seeing a rise in information delivery where the environment acts as a background—subtly fostering the right atmosphere for the task at hand and allowing workers to flow into their activities intuitively. While these two areas are often overlooked in conventional workplace design, we believe they hold the key to facilitating smooth transitions and enabling the coexistence of diverse work modes.

Our dual-track analysis highlights a clear necessity: the design of "hybrid spaces" where human states, information, and physical environments are deeply interconnected. To address this, we propose "Phygital Hub"—a hub environment that leverages digital insights to understand human states, activities, and relationships, allowing the space to adapt in real time. Technologies such as AI, sensing, and digital twins enable us to monitor and mediate previously intangible elements. We believe these will serve as the foundational infrastructure to upgrade physical spaces into dynamic, adaptive hubs.

Our dual-track analysis highlights a clear necessity: the design of "hybrid spaces" where human states, information, and physical environments are deeply interconnected. To address this, we propose "Phygital Hub"—a hub environment that leverages digital insights to understand human states, activities, and relationships, allowing the space to adapt in real time. Technologies such as AI, sensing, and digital twins enable us to monitor and mediate previously intangible elements. We believe these will serve as the foundational infrastructure to upgrade physical spaces into dynamic, adaptive hubs.

In recent years, work styles have drastically changed as remote communication through web meetings and chat has become mainstream. While this shift has increased convenience, it has also created issues such as reduced communication and productivity. To address this, the project proposes a “Phygital Workplace Model” that blends physical and digital environments, supported by an AI agent capable of sensing, processing, and adjusting workspaces intelligently to create a more natural and adaptive way of working.

In recent years, work styles have drastically changed as remote communication through web meetings and chat has become mainstream. While this shift has increased convenience, it has also created issues such as reduced communication and productivity. To address this, the project proposes a “Phygital Workplace Model” that blends physical and digital environments, supported by an AI agent capable of sensing, processing, and adjusting workspaces intelligently to create a more natural and adaptive way of working.

For the proposal of a phygital workplace model, we are collecting case studies of innovation centers and future centers. We are researching and organizing how office designs are being experimented with, where physical and digital elements, as well as workstyles and lifestyles, are seamlessly integrated.

For the proposal of a phygital workplace model, we are collecting case studies of innovation centers and future centers. We are researching and organizing how office designs are being experimented with, where physical and digital elements, as well as workstyles and lifestyles, are seamlessly integrated.

In addition to collecting case studies of innovation centers and future centers, we are also conducting research and analysis on key enabling technologies. In particular, from the perspective of the “fusion of digital and physical,” we have established two axes: "private - shared" and "ambient - aware", and are mapping each case along these dimensions.This approach allows us to visualize where current technologies are concentrated and to explore the potential for future developments.

In addition to collecting case studies of innovation centers and future centers, we are also conducting research and analysis on key enabling technologies. In particular, from the perspective of the “fusion of digital and physical,” we have established two axes: "private - shared" and "ambient - aware", and are mapping each case along these dimensions.This approach allows us to visualize where current technologies are concentrated and to explore the potential for future developments.

We will begin by defining the values required for future workplaces based on an analysis of existing case studies, and then create conceptual diagrams and videos to illustrate these ideas. Next, we will move into the development phase to realize these values, leveraging mign’s AI technologies as the foundation and translating them into office design and applications. Starting in April 2026, we plan to test and validate these implementations in a newly planned office space in Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, to evaluate whether the intended effects are achieved.

We will begin by defining the values required for future workplaces based on an analysis of existing case studies, and then create conceptual diagrams and videos to illustrate these ideas. Next, we will move into the development phase to realize these values, leveraging mign’s AI technologies as the foundation and translating them into office design and applications. Starting in April 2026, we plan to test and validate these implementations in a newly planned office space in Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, to evaluate whether the intended effects are achieved.

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