KKE, where personal growth leads to social growth

During my master's degree in architecture at the Istanbul Technical University, I studied a programme called "Environmental Control and Construction Technology”. I aspired to design buildings in harmony with nature. Here, I conducted research to evaluate the impact that high-rise buildings have on the surrounding environment through wind tunnel experiments. After that, I came to Japan to enter the doctoral programme at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and I scaled up the scope of my research to conduct numerical analysis on heat and wind conditions in cities.

As a postdoctoral researcher, I took part in the Ministry of the Environment's S-14 project: Case Study on the Implementation of Adaptation Measures Considering Mitigation in Asian Mega-cities. I had the occasion to conduct a research on the impact that the construction of a large seawall to protect Jakarta from flooding would have on the wind and heat environments in urban areas. After working on this project for three years, I took part in the K-meet career support event held at Tokyo Tech, and that's where I met KKE.

There are three reasons why I decided to work here. Firstly, KKE's corporate philosophy matched my own values. I wanted to play a role in creating a better living environment as a bridge between university research and society. Secondly, as a foreign woman, I wanted to work for a company that promotes equal opportunities and cares about personal growth. I thought that by working at KKE, I could grow as an individual and contribute to the growth of the organisation and society at the same time. Thirdly, the company's founder, Director Hattori, graduated from the same university as me and established KKE as a venture company. I wanted to work in a job that would contribute to “designing next-generation society”, as well as participating in research and development that would benefit business development.

My growth as an interdisciplinary design engineer

In my work, after being assigned to the Structural Design Department, I was involved in a wide range of projects, including structural analysis of art objects, reinforced concrete, and CLT building projects. Through discussions with colleagues and senior staff, I was able to acquire a multifaceted understanding of the fundamentals of structural design. In the department, I learned not only about structural projects, but also about management approaches such as marketing, networking, and business development, which gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge beyond my field of expertise.

Nowadays, the boundaries between disciplines tend to be ambiguous, and it is difficult to answer complex issues with knowledge from a single field. This is why the integrated approach to design and engineering that KKE promotes is so important. It is necessary for proposing innovative and creative solutions, but it is also essential for my own growth as an interdisciplinary design engineer at KKE.

KKE GREEN CHALLENGE 2056

KKE holds an annual in-house business contest called “Shanai-Koubou”: there, “Bio_FlexShade”, a climate-adaptive shading system developed in collaboration with Kyoto University, received the “Grand Prize”. Bio_FlexShade is a self-forming, energy-free, sustainable shading device that responds to changes in temperature and humidity. We are currently applying for a patent, and after outdoor performance testing, we will consider its implementation.

Another initiative we have is called “Mirai-Toushi” (Investment for the Future), which aims to support the development of businesses, expected to lead to the realisation of the next generation society, and assure the sustainable growth of the company. The theme I chose for this initiative is consulting for environmentally friendly architectural design. In this initiative, we are carrying on the spirit of the words of our founder, President Makoto Hattori, “The greatest privilege in the world is to work hard for others, and secretly enjoy them being fulfilled”. With the mission of creating a better society for the global environment, we are aiming to reduce our impact on the planet and create a resilient and sustainable living environment for future generations, under the title of “KKE GREEN CHALLENGE 2056”.

Realising a resilient society that is environmentally conscious, beyond Japan's borders

I am from Turkey, a country that experiences a lot of earthquakes, as does Japan. There is a 95% chance that an earthquake of magnitude 7 or greater will hit Istanbul within the next 70 years. This would cause more than 10% of Istanbul's 15 million residents to lose their homes. Therefore, Turkey's National Earthquake Strategy and Action Plan stipulates earthquake-resistant and sustainable constructions that would prevent and reduce economic, social and environmental damage. I feel a duty to contribute to my home country in regards to this vulnerability. And at the Turkey-Japan Joint Seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction, I had the opportunity to introduce CLT technology, which is KKE's sustainable and resilient design solution. This was a small step towards my goal. I intend to continue with my efforts on KKE’s ‘Overseas Business Development’, and take action strategically.