Creating Living Environments Where Talent Feels 'Glad to Work Here': BLUE DESIGN Starts Renovation of Dormitories for Foreign Personnel

## Overview
BLUE DESIGN (CEO: Kotaro Kurihara), a company based in Karatsu, Saga, specialized in architecture, real estate, and urban development, has begun a renovation project for a dormitory operated by a local agricultural corporation in Karatsu.

This facility, which houses approximately 14 foreign workers under the Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker programs, is being renovated to feature private rooms, custom desks, and communal spaces. Given the deepening labor shortage in the agricultural sector, this initiative aims to support the retention and well-being of foreign workers from the perspective of creating 'housing that attracts talent.'

## Background: Housing as the Key to Talent Retention
In the agricultural sector, the shortage of labor has become severe, and foreign personnel—including those under technical intern and specified skilled worker programs—are indispensable to regional production. The facility houses approximately 13 workers from Indonesia and Vietnam. Some have been working there for over 10 years, communicating in Japanese and working to support their families back home.

However, living conditions for such foreign personnel are often inadequate, and the quality of housing is increasingly becoming a deciding factor in talent retention and recruitment competitiveness. Indeed, the reputation of living conditions and workplaces spreads via social media in their home countries, directly impacting future hiring efforts.

The client for this project, an agricultural corporation, expressed a desire for employees who live on-site to feel proud of their living environment and satisfied with their work, while also ensuring peace of mind for their families in their home countries. In response, BLUE DESIGN is leading the design and construction under the concept: 'Moving beyond a dormitory where they just sleep, to a home where each individual can live comfortably and choose to work for a long time.'

## Project Overview: A Dormitory for 14, Designed to Be a Home
This project involves renovating an existing employee dormitory to accommodate 13 foreign workers. Key features include:

- Individual Private Spaces: Under loft beds that utilize vaulted ceilings, custom-built desks, storage, and hanger spaces are integrated three-dimensionally to provide both privacy and functionality in a limited area.
- High-Quality Communal Spaces: A common area with custom-built counter desks by the windows is being created for study, rest, and social interaction.
- Warm Materials and Design: The design aims for a calm, comfortable space that maximizes the texture of wood.

## Future Prospects
Under its philosophy of 'Creating Valuable Differences,' BLUE DESIGN has always focused on creating spaces that address the purpose behind the lifestyle and business, rather than treating the building as the ultimate goal. The firm positions this project as a model case for living environments for talent supporting local agriculture and will continue to address the challenges faced by business operators.

Beyond residential, retail, and lodging facilities, BLUE DESIGN addresses the sustainability of regional industries by 'creating environments where people gather, work, and want to continue living.'