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.
Park Residence
Shin-Okachimachi, Tokyo, Japan
A Housing project for a married couple in the commercial district of Shin-Okachimachi, Tokyo, a neighborhood known for its distinctive urban landscape of backstreet workshops and narrow alleys. Located at the rear of a notably narrow plot, nestled between two buildings, is a 1.5-meter-wide alleyway lined with traditional wooden houses. This space exudes a serene ambiance of daily life.
To enhance this atmosphere, we designed the ground floor as an open, alley-like space extending from north to south, allowing the scenic charm of the alley to be appreciated from the main street. With a site area of just 30 square meters and a width of 3.7 meters, we optimized the interior space by utilizing 100mm x 100mm structural members.
Furthermore, to efficiently utilize the limited building footprint, each floor is configured as a split level, connected by an open-tread staircase. This design approach creates a sense of spaciousness and continuity, giving the living space the impression of a grand staircase encompassing the entire residence.
The façade features ribbed extruded cement boards, aligning with the typology of the surrounding backstreet workshops that use corrugated iron sheets for exterior walls.
Lighting fixtures on each floor were meticulously calibrated to ensure a gradual transition from public to private spaces. This subtle variation in luminance provides comfort and tranquility, guiding residents naturally toward the bedroom as evening falls.
※Project in collaboration with Frank la Rivière, Architects
Photographs by Kakizoe Architects