In March 2026, as part of our social initiatives to encourage team members to reflect on society, we held a film screening.

The featured film, “Making a Mountain,” is a documentary that follows architect Bjarke Ingels as he takes on the challenge of transforming a large waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen into an innovative architectural landmark that even features a ski slope.

Building on the film’s theme, we invited architect Tamotsu Ito as a guest speaker. After the screening, he joined team members for a discussion, where he shared his perspective on the film and exploring sustainability through the lens of architecture.

Mr. Ito approaches architecture with a strong focus on the relationship between people and materials. For example, he regularly collects leftover and reclaimed materials from construction sites and reuses them for new projects. During the session, he introduced several of his past projects while reflecting on the film.

He shared examples such as repurposing curved pipes from vinyl greenhouses that were originally set to be discarded, as well as projects designed for easy dismantling and recycling in mind—retaining concrete structures while reconstructing only the steel components. Through these stories, he offered a thoughtful and multifaceted perspective on sustainability in architecture.

Questions such as how to respond to given conditions, which materials to use, how to build, and how to ensure long-term use are also highly relevant to Wacom’s approach to manufacturing. The session provided many valuable insights.

Participants shared feedback such as, “I found the idea of creating something new from leftover materials innovative,” and “I realized that architecture can serve as a communication tool.” At the same time, some raised questions like, “Is sustainability always positive?” and “Should we consider maintenance and management as part of sustainability?” Topics which all prompted deeper reflection on the topic.

This second screening session, featuring Mr. Ito, offered a valuable opportunity to view society from new perspectives. While time didn’t allow for every topic to be explored in depth, we hope to carry these insights, and questions they sparked, into future initiatives.

Fundraising activity
Ahead of the screening, we also held an in-house fundraising initiative to strengthen our connection with society. Donation boxes were placed in the Tokyo office for approximately two weeks, raising 13,103 yen for Japan for UNHCR and 9,945 yen for the Japanese Red Cross Tokyo Metropolitan Chapter.

Dialogue Highlights (Excerpt):
From Tamotsu Ito:

• What may seem sustainable from one perspective may not be from another. That’s why it’s important to think about how we can shape a world that we truly want to sustain.
• Architecture can serve as a starting point for communities to form and grow. I believe it has the power to create meaningful places.
• When clients need to build something, part of an architect’s role is to propose how creativity can be integrated into what is made and what kind of space the project can become.
• I value a sense of enjoyment and excitement in the creative process. Ideally, that energy leads to new ideas, meaningful collaborations, and the growth of new projects.
• I try not to fixate on notions like “this is the only way” or “this is how it should be.” Instead, I value responding to what emerges during the process.
  

From team members:

• I used to think architects mainly create new things using new materials. Mr. Ito’s approach of working with leftover materials felt truly groundbreaking.
• Budget constraints are a major factor. While reusing materials is valuable, sustainability should also take maintenance and long-term management into account. We may need to think more about second and third life cycles.
• Sustainability as a concept may not always be entirely positive. I’d be interested in exploring its potential downsides as well.
• Regarding the film, the idea of turning the facility itself into an enjoyable space felt like a bold idea that could also boost worker motivation.
• I was struck by how architecture and art can function as communication tools, changing how facilities are perceived. I’d like to explore their role in society further.

• Profile: Tamotsu Ito

Representative of Tamotsu Ito Architecture Office. A licensed first-class architect and Associate Professor at Nagoya Zokei University. 
Born in Gifu Prefecture, he graduated from the Department of Architecture at the University of Tokyo. Mr. Ito began his career at Coelacanth K&H, where he led a wide range of projects, including residential homes, apartment complexes, offices, nurseries, junior high schools, and libraries, before founding his own practice. He later pursued graduate studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, earning a master’s degree, and went on to work as a research assistant in the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich for three years. Since 2020, he has been based in Gifu, where he has been working on architectural and public space projects of various scales and functions.
tamotsu ito architecture office

• About the Film “Making a Mountain”

Director: Rikke Selin Fokdal, Kaspar Astrup Schröder
Producer: Katrine A. Sahlstrøm, Kaspar Astrup Schröder
Cast: Bjarke Ingels, Ulla Röttger, and others
Cinematography: Henrik Bohn Ipsen, Jutta Marie Jessen, Kaspar Astrup Schröder, and others
Editor: Rikke Selin Fokdal
Screenplay: Rikke Selin Fokdal, Kaspar Astrup Schröder
Music: Rasmus Winter-Jensen
Original Title: Making a Mountain
Production: Good Company Pictures
Distribution: United People
2020 / Denmark / 51 minutes
©2020 Good Company Pictures