NGK/NTK Venture Lab Tokyo
Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Located on the 13th floor of an office tower in Shinagawa, Venture Lab Tokyo is a 260㎡facility dedicated to showcasing the clients core technologies utilizing fine ceramics and promoting active engagements with potential partners to co-create products in the field of medicine, environment and next-generation vehicles.
The brief called for a reception, lounge and exhibition space within a typical open plan office space surrounded by meeting rooms and a VIP room. The distinguishing feature of the facility is an exhibition space contained within a multifaceted glass enclosure inserted into a rigid rectilinear space. Several triangular voids generated between the contrasting forms serves as functional corridors and establishes its dynamic identity.
Within the exhibition space, 9 bespoke display tables lined with gravel infused plaster evokes the raw state of ceramic. The clients core technologies are explained and illustrated in detail through AR-capable tablets and large-scale video projection. Level of privacy required for various scenarios are controlled though electrochromic films applied to all glass surfaces within the facility.
The principal proposition of the project is to propose a distinctive spatial composition that attempts to break the rigid image of a conventional working environment. The multifaceted crystalline form of the exhibition space generated voids that possessed great flexibility and make reference to the client’s corporate identity of crystallizing ceramic at a nano scale.
Incubate Fund Headquarters
Tokyo, Japan
An office design project for a venture capital firm situated within the confines of Azabudai Hills, Japan's first large-scale venture capital gathering base.
At the heart of the entrance lounge is a circular theater-style seating area capable of hosting up to 50 individuals. This space serves as a gathering point for various stakeholders such as capitalists and entrepreneurs, to foster creativity and exchange insights.
The circular table positioned in the center is a bespoke furniture that offers the flexibility to be detached and repositioned, enabling the lounge layout to be adapted as needed, particularly for events.
The adjacent bar area offers a tranquil setting for both staff and visitors to unwind. Meanwhile, the outdoor terrace presents a view of the vibrant Azabudai landscape, seamlessly blending with the contours of the building structure.
The elongated workspace, flooded with natural light from the south-facing direction, is designed as an open and collaborative environment. It features a free-address system, facilitating collaboration among various roles, including capitalists and middle-to-back-office functions.
This space is envisioned as a place dedicated to generating solutions for future societal challenges. Its objective is to foster the exchange of diverse ideas, aspiring to evolve into a central hub where innovation for the future is cultivated.
※Project by Junkan LLP
Incubate Fund Headquarters
Incubate Fund Headquarters
Photography © Kozo Takayama