An office project for a video production firm. Located in a building in Marunouchi, Tokyo, the site had a nice atmosphere with a view of the zelkova trees lining the street from the windows. The innovative points of this project are through repeated dialogues with the client, we decided, first, not to give the space an office feel, and second, to create not only a “park or plaza-like” office space but also like a gallery that would incorporate the creative atmosphere of the avenue. We sought an office space with a sense of freedom and stability suitable for their creative activities.

When observing it on a detailed scale, we could describe the creative, and functionality of this project. To be specific, the existing space has an opening for natural light and a terrace on the north side, and is a general office space with a pillar pattern at a fixed pitch. We first plotted necessary spaces for each zone, taking this pillar pattern into consideration. For example, we laid out a sofa space that can be used as a reception area and a work lounge at the entrance, a main workspace, a café counter, a small private room for meetings, a multi-purpose workspace that can be used for meetings by using partitions, and a standing counter right next to the terrace. 

Essentially, the office is designed to be used on a free-address basis, with each person being free to use the space as he or she sees fit. The form of the furniture placed in each space were naturally derived from its function, while plotted in a landscape approach, much like objects scattered throughout a park. Black artificial marble was used for all table tops, creating a sense of unity even though each has a different shape. Douglas wood for the flooring material, wicker mesh furniture and sofa upholstery were used, adding a sand beige color to the palette, combined with the gray walls to keep the overall balance in color tone. 

The temperature of the lighting also changes according to the flow of the day from morning to night, allowing workers to experience the flow of the day while staying in the office and adding a sense of playfulness that enhance creativity. At the client’s request, library storage for their inspirational art books and walls for displaying artwork were planned in various areas to fit their creativity and functionality. The office is like a park or a plaza, but also like a gallery.