MDJM Signs Design Collaboration Agreement with Kengo Kuma and Associates for Fernie Castle Redevelopment Project to Enhance Cultural Exchange and Long-Term Value Creation

Rhea-AI Summary

MDJM (NASDAQ:UOKA) has announced a significant design collaboration with Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA) for the renovation and landscape planning of the Fernie Castle cultural destination project in Scotland. The partnership aims to transform the castle into a multi-functional cultural landmark.

The redevelopment plan includes creating an Oriental-style garden and developing an animation and art museum inspired by Japan's Ghibli Museum. The museum will collaborate with European animation studios to produce works based on Eastern literature, promoting cultural exchange between East and West.

KKAA, led by award-winning architect Kengo Kuma, brings extensive international experience with projects in over 50 countries. The firm is known for integrating traditional aesthetics with modern design across cultural, educational, and public sectors.

Positive

• Partnership with internationally renowned architectural firm KKAA enhances project credibility
• Planned development of unique cultural attractions including Oriental garden and animation museum
• Strategic positioning for cultural tourism market through East-West integration
• Potential for long-term value creation through cultural property development

Negative

• No financial details or timeline provided for the project
• Significant investment likely required for castle renovation and museum development
• Success depends on uncertain tourism and cultural engagement metrics

Insights

Strategic Investment Analyst

MDJM's partnership with prestigious KKAA for Fernie Castle redevelopment strengthens cultural asset transformation strategy with potential long-term value.

MDJM's collaboration with Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA) represents a strategic advancement in the company's cultural asset management approach. The partnership brings world-class architectural expertise to the Fernie Castle project, significantly enhancing its development potential. KKAA's international reputation—evidenced by their work across 50+ countries and recent prestigious projects like the UCCA Clay Museum—provides MDJM with design credibility essential for creating a distinctive cultural destination.

The planned Oriental garden and animation museum concept demonstrates MDJM's innovative approach to creating differentiated cultural properties. By blending Eastern aesthetics with Western heritage, MDJM is positioning this asset to serve cross-cultural audiences—potentially capturing multiple market segments within the cultural tourism sector. The animation museum, inspired by Japan's successful Ghibli Museum model, indicates a focus on creating experiential destinations rather than passive historical sites.

This redevelopment strategy aligns with growing market demand for immersive cultural experiences and represents a sophisticated approach to heritage property monetization. The emphasis on Eastern-Western cultural fusion creates a unique market positioning that could differentiate this project from conventional heritage destinations. While financial specifics are absent, the investment in high-quality design expertise suggests MDJM is prioritizing creating distinctive assets capable of generating premium visitor experiences and potentially commanding higher revenue streams over standard heritage property management approaches.

LETHAM, Scotland, Aug. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MDJM LTD (Nasdaq: UOKA) (the "Company" or "MDJM"), an integrated global culture-driven asset management company, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, MD Local Global Limited, had entered into a design collaboration agreement with Kengo Kuma and Associates ("KKAA") for the renovation and landscape planning of the Fernie Castle cultural destination project in Scotland. This collaboration represents a strategic step toward enhancing both the cultural value and long-term commercial potential of Fernie Castle as part of MDJM's broader strategy to transform the site into a multi-functional cultural landmark.

KKAA is an internationally recognized architectural firm known for integrating traditional aesthetics with modern design, with projects in more than 50 countries across cultural, educational, and public sectors. Notable recent works include the UCCA Clay Museum in Yixing, China, and the Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian in Lisbon, Portugal. KKAA's founder, Kengo Kuma, established the firm in 1990 and is a University Professor and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo. His work, honored with the 2025 Louis I. Kahn Award, is celebrated for creating innovative relationships between nature, technology, and human experience.

Under the agreement, KKAA will provide comprehensive architectural and landscape design services for the Fernie Castle site. The redevelopment plan includes the creation of an Oriental-style garden and the planned development of an animation and art museum inspired by models such as Japan's Ghibli Museum. The museum is expected to collaborate with leading European animation studios to produce works based on classical Eastern literature, with the objective of promoting Eastern cultural values and philosophical themes to audiences in the UK and other parts of Europe. This project seeks to combine the cultural heritage of Fernie Castle with Eastern aesthetics, creating a distinctive venue that integrates heritage preservation, immersive cultural programs, and innovative design. By engaging KKAA, MDJM aims to ensure high-quality planning and execution for a destination that blends architecture, art, and cultural exchange.

"Our collaboration with KKAA marks an important step forward for the Fernie Castle redevelopment," said Mr. Siping Xu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MDJM. "With KKAA's expertise, we are confident that this project will evolve into a one-of-a-kind cultural and artistic destination that sets a new benchmark for combining Eastern aesthetics and Western heritage. This partnership underscores our vision of creating cultural properties that foster global cultural exchange while generating long-term value for our shareholders."

About MDJM LTD

MDJM LTD is a global culture-driven asset management company focused on transforming historical properties into cultural hubs that integrate modern digital technology with rich historical value. The Company has been expanding its operations in the UK, where it is developing projects such as Fernie Castle in Scotland and the Robin Hill Property in England. These properties are being remodeled into multi-functional cultural venues that will feature fine dining, hospitality services, art exhibitions, and cultural exchange events. As part of its broader strategy, MDJM seeks to position itself as a hub for artisan exchanges, art shows, and sales, leveraging its historical properties as platforms for promoting Eastern and Western cultural exchanges. This initiative reflects the Company's commitment to furthering its global market expansion and enhancing its cultural business footprint. For more information regarding the Company, please visit https://www.ir-uoka.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Contact:

Sherry Zheng
WAVECREST GROUP INC.
Phone: +1 718-213-7386
Email: sherry@wavecrestipo.com

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SOURCE MDJM LTD

FAQ

What is MDJM's (NASDAQ:UOKA) plan for Fernie Castle in Scotland?

MDJM plans to transform Fernie Castle into a cultural destination featuring an Oriental-style garden and an animation and art museum, partnering with Kengo Kuma and Associates for design and renovation.

Who is Kengo Kuma and why is this partnership significant for MDJM?

Kengo Kuma is an award-winning architect and founder of KKAA, with projects in over 50 countries. The partnership brings international expertise and credibility to MDJM's cultural destination project.

What type of museum is MDJM planning to develop at Fernie Castle?

MDJM plans to develop an animation and art museum inspired by Japan's Ghibli Museum, which will collaborate with European animation studios to produce works based on Eastern literature.

How will the Fernie Castle project benefit MDJM shareholders?

The project aims to create long-term value for shareholders through the development of a unique cultural property that combines Eastern aesthetics with Western heritage.

What is the scope of KKAA's involvement in the Fernie Castle project?

KKAA will provide comprehensive architectural and landscape design services for the entire Fernie Castle site, including the Oriental garden and museum development.