Enjoy 2 free articles a month. For unlimited access, get a membership now.

Sony CSL Kyoto Laboratory

Fumihiko Sano Studio

SAVE SUBMISSION
Bronze

1 / 10

Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Material
5.90
5.10
5.70
4.60
5.33
Gregory Melitonov
Gregory Melitonov Partner at Taller KEN
6
5
6
5
5.5
Melvyn Law
Melvyn Law Director / Principal Designer at Limelight atelier
5
5
5
4
4.75
Justin Donnelly
Justin Donnelly Creative Director at Jumbo
The pairing of monolithic wood slab...
5
5
4
4
4.5
Ester Bruzkus
Ester Bruzkus Founder at Ester Bruzkus Architekten
6
5
7
5
5.75
Hamish Guthrie
Hamish Guthrie Founder and Director at Hecker Guthrie
7
6
7
5
6.25
Anna Gavrichkova
Anna Gavrichkova Founder at LEFT design
6
5
5
5
5.25
Golnar Roshan
Golnar Roshan Creative Partner at Rive Roshan
6
5
7
5
5.75
Patrick Keane
Patrick Keane Director at Enter Projects Asia
Intriguingly dull spaces highlighte...
8
6
6
5
6.25
Natalie Badenduck
Natalie Badenduck Associate Professor at Mount Royal University
The wood features seem disconnected...
4
4
5
4
4.25
Nina Sickenga
Nina Sickenga Founder at MOSS
6
5
5
4
5
Client
Sony CSL, Inc.
Floor area
155 ㎡
Completion
2020
photographer
Yosuke Tanaka

The office space for Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Sony CSL) Kyoto Laboratory is designed on the ways in which architecture can help to facilitate the company’s philosophy of "contributing to the fulfillment of human values". An architectural reinterpretation of this motto is manifested through designing a laboratory for occupants to freely occupy the space while simultaneously experiencing various stimuli to develop new ideas. An issue which the project aims to resolve through the design concept is the lack of need for a physical laboratory in a time in which research can be completed through the internet. The project was to create a place where researchers would have an incentive to work at the laboratory. The desks, chairs and large tables are designed to be moveable to accommodate for events. The renovation includes a kitchen and a meeting room. These programs were installed for functional reasons, but materialistic design was implemented to make a unique space. Logs of various tree species, colors and textures were used for the furniture. Some logs are left with the bark intact, while some utilize sapwood, other have a hard texture to the soft textures. The organic shape and bumps of the grain make each furniture piece unique. The shape and size of the wood changes over time to form a dynamic space. The design of the laboratory highlights the dynamic environment present in everyday life to correlate with the company’s philosophy.