How did you first become aware of Building Biology?

In the summer of 1997, I read in a Japanese architectural journal that a researcher, Dr. Ulla Eggers (Livos Pflanzenchemie GmbH), was giving a lecture in Osaka, Japan. I don’t know why, but the news caught my attention. So I called the organizer, Mr. Ikeda (✝ 2020), to ask him for details. During the phone call, it turned out that he was also an importer of Livos products. After a few minutes, he asked me to translate the book “Ways to Healthy Buildings” by architect Holger König into Japanese. Thanks to my many years of study of anthroposophy (since 1981) and my two years of research at the Technical University of Munich (1991–1993), which included architectural theory of the Goethean period, I was well prepared for this first encounter with building biology.

For the translation of Holger’s book, I worked with Gen Takahashi (✝ 2004), who was my supervisor. He studied mechanics in Japan and architecture at the Technical University of Darmstadt, and he was a pioneer in introducing ecological architecture to Japan in the 1990s. Every Friday, I read the manuscripts I had translated with him, and this eventually led to the establishment of the Working Group of Building Biology in 2005, which is comparable to a research institute. The book was published in 2000 after three years of intensive work (Figure 3).

You travelled to Germany in 1998 to learn more about building biology. What were the most memorable experiences?

Translating Holger König’s book taught me a lot about building biology and its holistic approach. Of course, it also contained information about the Institute of Building Biology + Sustainability IBN, and so I really wanted to visit the Institute and meet its founder and pioneer, Prof. Dr. Anton Schneider. In 1998 I finally made it. I remember taking a taxi from Neubeuern to the Institute, driving through fields and meadows and wondering if I was on the right road. When I rang the doorbell that afternoon, I was greeted by a shirtless Anton coming out of the garden with a hoe. I was immediately excited by the fact that this was where building biology would go out into the world.

The way he spoke calmly and chose his words carefully was exactly how I imagined a thinker to be. He inspired me to create a good urban environment and develop an eco-neighborhood.

He told me that the 25 Guiding Principles of Building Biology and the Building Biology Course IBN had been established in the 1970s. In Japan, however, people became aware of the problem of unhealthy homes and buildings only in the 1990s. I still remember his words: “Publish what you’ve done, even if it’s just a little. We also started from scratch a quarter of a century ago.”

Anton Schneider always appreciated my articles and essays and published them many times in the IBN Sustainable Building and Living Magazine “Wohnung + Gesundheit.” (Editor’s note: The magazine “Wohnung + Gesundheit” was replaced by the online “Building Biology Information Portal” in 2019.) I am still grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to present my work (Photo 1).

Prof. Dr. Tsuneo Ishikawa

• Born 1962 in Tokyo, Japan
• Studied architecture at Waseda University, Tokyo
• 1987 assistant for Yuji Agematsu’s seminar at Tokai University
• 1991–1993 DAAD scholarship at the Technical University of Munich
• 1995 doctorate in Tokyo
• Since 1997 lecturer in the Department of Architecture at Maebashi Institute of Technology
• Since 2004 Eco Home Japan architectural practice
• 2005 established the Building Biology Institute of Japan BIJ (baubiologie.jp | bureau@baubiologie.jp)
• Since 2011, Japanese version of the Building Biology Course IBN
• Since 2012, professor and currently vice president of the Department of Architectural Design, Architectural Theory and Building Biology

“Since establishing my architectural office, I have always tried to maintain a balance between education, scientific research, and architectural design. For example, since 2012, I have been collaborating with colleagues in the field of building materials and environmental technology to research rammed earth construction. Eleven years later, we received the “Architectural Institute of Japan – Education Award” in 2021.

How did you manage to establish building biology in Japan?

In 2001 I succeeded in introducing a new elective course in building biology for the 2nd semester (now the 3rd semester) at my university. Fortunately, my colleagues in the department did not raise any objections at the crucial meeting, because at that time they hardly knew what building biology was. Unfortunately, the Japanese media are still dominated by luxury designs by so-called “star architects,” and these in turn have a strong influence on young students. However, my lectures on building and living in a humane and environmentally friendly way were very well received. The reason for this is certainly that building biology offers solutions to current social, ecological, and health problems. One student, who has suffered from asthma since childhood, told me a very moving story: “A house becomes an ideal nest for people when it is part of nature. Building biology teaches a true lesson that practitioners must never forget. Building biology demands responsibility from us and provides answers to the question of what really makes for a satisfying and comfortable life.”

In 2004 you were able to build a house for your family. What was most important to you?

Our house was built in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture (Photo 2), which is known as a nature reserve and residential area for the hot summer season. Since it is 1,000 meters above sea level, I decided to install a wall heating system, which is still largely unknown in Japan. In addition, natural building materials were used to showcase building biology in Japan. Here, we can feel in our daily lives that we are living with and in nature, as advocated by building biology.

My wife Kazue became pregnant shortly after we moved into our new building biology-inspired house, and our daughter Hanayo was born in early September. We see this as a sign that Hanayo chose not only her parents, but also her (built) environment in the previous spiritual world (Photo 4)!

1 Visit to the Institute of Building Biology + Sustainability IBN in 2002, at that time still in Holzham near Neubeuern (from left to right: Prof. Dr. Tsuneo Ishikawa, Rupert Schneider, Prof. Dr. Anton Schneider)
2 Front of Prof. Ishikawa’s house in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, 1,000 meters above sea level, 2004

When was the Building Biology Institute of Japan BIJ founded and what is its mission?

At the 2003 conference of the Institute of Building Biology + Sustainability IBN in Bad Endorf, I met the environmental physician Prof. Dr. Volker Zahn. He visited us at the founding meeting of the BIJ in March 2005 and gave a lecture on “Environmental Medicine and Building Biology.” Since then we offer so-called “quarterly seminars” and publish our magazine “Baubiologie” four times a year.

In total, we have organized 69 seminars, each on a specific building biology topic. It is not easy to find suitable experts for each topic. Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we have been offering many events online. This allows us to invite building biology experts from all over the world, such as Petra Jebens-Zirkel (✝ 2023), architect and director of the Spanish partner institute “Instituto Espanol de Baubiologie IEB,” or And Akman, architect and director of the Turkish partner institute YBE. I am convinced that the world is one and that building biology is humane and therefore valid everywhere in the world.

Our magazine “Baubiologie” is published every three months. Although it is expensive, it is still published on paper, mainly because it has a sensual quality and a magazine gives a better overview. We try to give a copy to all the public libraries and the departments of architecture at the universities in order to make building biology better known (Photo 6).

In 2012, we invited the architect Winfried Schneider from the IBN and, in 2015, the architect Christoph Bijok (✝ 2023) to our Building Biology Conferences in Karuizawa (Photo 5). Both also gave lectures as part of our in-person training courses for the distance learning Building Biology Course. The magnificent natural setting of the city of Karuizawa attracts many people.

At present, we have nearly 70 members in the BIJ from all over Japan, most of whom are professionals such as architects, builders, or building material suppliers. We mainly provide them with professional development and advice.

3 The Japanese edition of the book “Ways to Healthy Buildings” by Holger König, 2000
4 Mother (Kazue) and daughter (Hanayo) having breakfast in their new home, 2006
5 Building Biology Conference in Karuizawa 2012, with Winfried Schneider (front center)
6 BIJ Journal “Baubiologie” No. 62

Since 2011, you have been offering a Japanese version of the distance learning Building Biology Course IBN with the BIJ. How did this happen?

In 2010/2011, I took the distance learning course and qualified as a Building Biology Consultant IBN after successfully passing the final exam. As a result, the BIJ started its own distance learning course in 2011, based on a license agreement with the IBN. Graduates of our distance learning program will receive the “Building Biology Consultant BIJ” certificate.

We had to translate all the texts (2,100 pages!) into Japanese. At first I translated everything myself, but later I hired a professional translator. The translation work was very challenging in the early years, especially since we had to send out a course every month. Even today, it takes a lot of time and energy to keep up with the constant updates. In addition, the construction situation in Japan is very different from that in Germany and Central Europe. For example, two thirds of the houses here are built of wood (timber frame, half-timbered, wood frame, etc.), brick construction is very rare. Therefore, in many parts of the course, appropriate adaptations and additions are necessary.

What can Japan learn from Germany?

In Japan, we tend to judge things more emotionally, based on feelings. This is also rooted in Shinto beliefs. For example, it is believed that a sacred spirit dwells in trees. In this respect, the rational judgments of the Germans seem dry and lifeless at first glance, but there is a lot to be learned from them in terms of improving the quality of life or saving energy based on data-driven manufacturing. It seems to me that it is important not to focus too much on numbers, but to learn to read and understand them in order to use them creatively.

What are the current building biology topics at the BIJ?

Our professional focus is on electrosmog. Here in Japan, the mains voltage is not 230 volts as in most of Europe, but 100 volts, and there is no requirement to install a ground system. Therefore, the electric and magnetic fields are very high.

In our country, the evaluation of building materials or buildings is usually based on economic and quality criteria. However, for a holistic assessment, I also consider objective environmental performance assessments, such as life cycle analysis from production to disposal, to be extremely important. The Carbon Index is also a useful tool.

Since the spread of the coronavirus has dramatically changed our lifestyles, many people are confused about the loss of their sense of belonging, both at home and at work, and are experiencing problems with their mental health. An important issue is therefore to show ways to create a safe, calm place where people feel comfortable and secure.

As mentioned earlier, we are also working on developing objective criteria for energy-efficient buildings made of natural materials.

You are currently planning a project that will make the “power of space” tangible. Please tell us about it!

Two years ago, after a chance meeting, I bought the land next to my house in Karuizawa, including a 50-year-old house that had been vacant. As part of the renovation, a large, attractive space is being created as a meeting place and eurhythmy studio; my wife Kazue is a eurhythmy teacher. Through a harmonious combination of colors, shapes, and proportions, as well as natural materials and visible structural elements, the “power of space” is to be experienced here (Photos 8 and 9).

Thank you for this interview!

7 Preschool designed by Prof. Dr. Tsuneo Ishikawa – in the foreground his daughter Hanayo
8 Model of the house of Prof. Dr. Tsuneo Ishikawa (left) in Karuizawa and the adjoining house, which is now being converted into a meeting place and eurhythmy studio
9 The eurhythmy studio after renovation with Kazue, eurhythmy teacher