Vacant Houses, Beacons of Regional Hope.

We are participating in April Dream, an initiative to make April 1st a day to share dreams. This press release is the dream of HYLEN Architects Inc.

HYLEN Architects Inc. (Headquarters: Yodogawa Ward, Osaka; Representative Director: Junya Ozawa) aims to be a design firm that re-examines and redefines the relationship between people and spaces through architectural and interior design. With the increasing number of vacant houses, we view them as regional resources and unlock their potential.

Vacant houses are filled with the potential to become regional hope. Due to an aging population and the concentration of people in urban centers, depopulation, an increase in vacant houses, and infrastructure aging are becoming serious issues in communities across the country. Abandoned vacant houses pose risks of collapse, can lead to decreased public safety, and degrade the image of the region, heightening a sense of crisis everywhere. However, in today's era of widespread internet and AI, we believe that regions can transform back into meaningful places by finding value in a location, regardless of its distance from urban centers or the presence of local businesses. At times as a new place for commerce, at others as a hub for disseminating regional charm—vacant houses remaining in a region can, with a change in perspective, serve as an entry point for attracting new users and new related populations. As buildings gain new meaning, the dormant potential within a region begins to stir. We view vacant houses not merely as idle assets, but as 'hope' that opens the future of the region, and we explore ways to utilize them rooted in the land.

The Potential for Vacant Houses to Become 'Gathering Places' Revealed on a Remote Island Among the vacant house utilization cases we have been involved in is the 'Hanarejima Campus in Sugashima' vacant house renovation project, underway on Sugashima, a remote island in Toba City, Mie Prefecture. This project, aimed at fostering exchange and communication for people both on and off the island by leveraging the space of vacant houses, was led by us as a design firm for its spatial creation. The site was a building formerly used as a Japanese inn. Light will once again shine in this place that many people have traveled from off-island to visit. Over 50 people of all ages and genders, from both on and off the island, including university students from Kansai University and Yokohama National University, participated in the renovation of the vacant house. This case demonstrates that the very process of renovating a vacant house can become an opportunity for people to gather, interact, and foster connections with the community. By creating new hubs in a region, people visiting from outside and those living within meet, leading to learning and dialogue. Gradually, relationships unique to that place begin to take shape. Through our experience on Sugashima, we have realized that the regeneration of vacant houses is not only about updating spaces but also about re-weaving relationships with the community. We will continue to engage in creating meaningful places, not limiting ourselves to an architectural perspective.

Representative's Comment Through my involvement in numerous architectural projects, I have come to view vacant houses not as 'buildings waiting to be demolished,' but as valuable assets for the region. Even when broadly termed 'vacant houses,' many retain usable structural materials like pillars and beams, or residential equipment. If the building dates back to the Meiji or Edo periods, it may possess historical value and be constructed with precious stone or wood. Conversely, in urban areas, rising land prices tend to lead to buildings being updated more cheaply and simply. In contrast, I believe that enhancing the value of existing buildings in regions and extending their use over the long term is an intrinsically richer way of living. Through the utilization of vacant houses, we will highlight the charm of regions, create flows of people and goods, foster exchange, and transform them into spaces for challenge. We will confront societal issues and take practical action by creating new value and relationships.

**HYLEN Architects Inc.** **Representative Director, Junya Ozawa**

About HYLEN Architects Operating as an architectural and interior design firm based in Osaka. We work with clients to co-create ideal spaces by deeply understanding their lifestyles, individuality, and aspirations through dialogue. We conduct thorough research into the land's history, industry, culture, and available materials. Emphasizing environmental design, we weave in the unique story of each location, realizing one-of-a-kind architecture for a sustainable future.

**[Company Overview]**

Company Name: HYLEN Architects Inc. Location: 1-5-33 Nishimiyahara, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, 532-0004 Representative Director: Junya Ozawa Established: October 2024 Business Content: Architectural and interior design and supervision Corporate Website: https://hylen-architects.com/

Keywords: Architecture, Design, Environmental Design, Kansai, Osaka, Remote Islands, Regional Revitalization, Community Revitalization, SDGs, April Dream