Enclosure and Division

CCC(Culture Convenience Club) and SMBC (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation) launched a joint initiative to create one of Japan’s largest integrated payment and point ecosystems. As part of this strategy, SMBC’s “Olive” vision was spatially redefined through CCC’s design expertise, resulting in the co-produced “Olive LOUNGE.” CCC’s SHARE LOUNGE brand, which collaborates with bookstores, banks, hotels, offices, and residences, serves as the foundation. At Shimotakaido, a cozy residential district of Tokyo, the lounge is imagined as a grove retreat like space surrounded by books and greenery. With 63 seats for working, relaxing, or enjoying a drink, the space sits at the station’s doorstep and aspires to become a local hub of connection and exchange.

The project began by questioning what a bank could be in the future, moving beyond the convenience of a typical station-front branch. Online banking has decreased foot traffic, yet there remains consistent demand for ATMs, consultations, and safe deposit boxes. Even in this prime location, operations used to end at 3 PM, leaving shutters down and space unused. To fully activate the site, the design focused on two things: creating a space usable after hours, and rethinking how to spatially divide traditional banking from new functions. In contrast to the former layout—ATMs and counters on the ground floor, meeting rooms upstairs—the new plan places a café and ATM on the first floor and banking services with SHARE LOUNGE on the second. The goal: to invite people to visit naturally, all day long. Yet, as planning progressed, structural and regulatory constraints emerged. This was far more complex than a typical renovation.

A key design move was to reinterpret the existing architectural character. We started by revisiting the building’s structural core—particularly the circular form visible in its exterior. Previously underutilized, this round shape was transformed into a central spatial element. The existing vestibule aligned with the circular axis, which became the organizing point of the first floor. A cylindrical volume was inserted, creating both spatial rhythm and a sense of flow between inside and out. It guides people through the entrance, encourages lingering in the café, and draws attention toward the relocated ATM and the stairs beyond.

On the second floor, the banking counters and SHARE LOUNGE coexist. After banking hours, the entire floor transforms into a lounge. Seating types vary—face-to-face tables, semi-private booths, and counters—providing users with a choice of proximity or privacy. Across the space, enclosure is thoughtfully layered at eye level. We set the height at 1350mm, avoiding any additional elements above eye level—allowing only a soft gradation of light and shadow, reminiscent of sunlight filtering through trees. By creating a horizontal division from the seated viewpoint, we aimed to establish both comfort and a cohesive spatial atmosphere.