PARK WELLSTATE – NISHIAZABU
PARK WELLSTATE Nishi-Azabu — Mitsui Fudosan Residential
Senior Residence / Multisensory Spatial Design
Background
PARK WELLSTATE Nishi-Azabu is a senior residence conceived around the idea that each resident should be free to live in a way that is entirely their own. KANSEI Design joined the project at its earliest stage — as part of a design consortium spanning multiple disciplines — contributing the multisensory perspective to the definition of experiential values the spaces should embody.
Research — Articulating Sensory Value
Before any fragrance or sound was considered, we conducted in-depth interviews with the target residents alongside a psychologist. The resulting data was put through language analysis to define, with precision, the sensory values each space within the building should express. Rather than working from vague descriptors such as “refined” or “calming,” we structured these findings into measurable sensory criteria — the foundation against which all subsequent design decisions were made.
Design — Implementation across the Library and Spa Floor
Drawing from the sensory criteria, we designed the distinct experiential qualities required for the Library and the Spa Floor respectively. For fragrance, we developed not only the ambient scent diffused throughout each space, but also a personal aroma spray for residents — both formulated with reference to Aromachology research into the deceleration of cognitive decline. Sound design was integrated under the same sensory framework, with a high-resolution natural sound system introduced to complete the experience across all senses as a unified whole.
Art and Aroma in Dialogue
Vision, scent, and sound were designed not as separate layers but as a continuous sensory conversation. What the art communicates to the eye, the fragrance reinforces through scent — so that the world the space inhabits reaches its residents consistently, across multiple senses at once.
Recognition
The project received a Silver Award at the A’ Design Award in the Sensory & Experiential Design category — an international recognition of the design consortium’s integrated approach to sensory experience.
What we did
- Multisensory design contribution to the project design consortium (pre-design phase)
- Psychological in-depth interviews with target residents and language analysis
- Sensory value criteria development
- Multisensory spatial concept design
- Original fragrance composition (ingredients selected from Aromachology research)
- Spatial aroma installation across Library and Spa Floor
- Personal aroma spray development, production and installation
- High-resolution natural sound system integration
- Art and aroma integrated design
- Aromachology site production
- A’ Design Award Silver