Tokyo

GREE is a company focused on immersive mobile gaming, virtual spaces, and avatars. When they decided to relocate their headquarters, we were asked to design an environment that would support the diverse teams working on a wide range of projects while also inspiring creativity. Tomooki Kengaku Tomooki Kengaku Tomooki Kengaku Working across seven floors and collaborating with local artists, the design concept became a “Subcultural Retreat”, a space that fosters self-expression, celebrates diversity, and reflects the vibrant subcultures found throughout Tokyo. Tomooki Kengaku Tomooki Kengaku Tomooki Kengaku Every detail was meticulously executed and combined with expressive, carefully crafted artwork... More

Sigma’s new headquarters in Kawasaki, designed by Kajima Design Studio, embodies a dynamic dialogue between workspace and nature. Set against a hillside near Shinkōji Park, the complex is composed of two bright buildings—housing offices, laboratories, darkrooms, and exhibition areas—linked by a dark monolith that presents Sigma’s technological and design history in a museum-like layout. Lamberto Rubino Lamberto Rubino Greenwise’s landscape design strengthens the building’s bond with the seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, golden oaks in autumn, and green corridors and patios that weave nature throughout the site. The mirror-brushed aluminum façade further blends the architecture into its... More

This project is the development of a new tenant building commissioned by a private owner. Located along Meiji-dori Avenue, which connects Shibuya, Harajuku, and Omotesando, the site sits at the heart of a dynamic urban context where diverse people, goods, and activities intersect. Yet behind the main street lies a quiet residential neighborhood, creating a layered environment where commercial vitality and everyday life coexist. Yosuke Ohtake The owner sought an architectural landmark that would embody the unique character of this location while providing a flexible and sustainable environment for tenants. Through a series of discussions with the client, four key principles were identified as the foundation of the project: sense of pla... More

Designed for staff who work on average a few days in the office, this space creates maximum utility and flexibility Vincent Hecht Caption Caption The Work Café: A dynamic, welcoming entry point where visitors and staff meet. Anchored by two meeting rooms are nearby: one large for ten plus, one small for four plus. The open area features reconfigurable furniture and a presentation wall perfect for town halls. Two large phone booths transition you to the next area. Caption Main Touchdown Zone: The core operational area with height-adjustable and team-work oriented desks. Two phone booths separate this zone from the work Café. Caption The Quiet Zone: Dedicated to deep focus. Here, staff enjoy increased... More

Located just five minutes from Oimachi Station, this 73-year-old wooden house has been transformed into a contemporary workspace through a renovation that balances clarity, preservation, and adaptability. The building is part of a dense cluster of postwar wooden structures situated behind the area's more prominent commercial and mid-rise office developments. This house, once a typical home in that quieter layer of the city, now takes on a new role as a functional and character-rich office. Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura The entrance was redesigned with a new door and exterior wall finish, offering a clean surface where signage can be installed—making its commercial use immediately legible from the outside... More

Transformation of a 1960s Wooden Apartment Building in Tokyo’s Minato Ward into a Commercial Rental Property In the heart of Tokyo, Minato Ward, a traditional wooden apartment building, originally comprising six separate units, has been reimagined into a single cohesive commercial space. This architectural transformation involved a complete internal renovation, where all interior walls were demolished to create an open and unified living environment. Enhancing Light and Space on the Ground Floor The ground floor, which previously suffered from poor natural lighting and a somewhat gloomy atmosphere, was carefully redesigned to maximize the use of available light. Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura Akira Naka... More

Far from the iconic, neon-soaked frenzy of Shibuya Crossing or Kabukicho, there exists a Tokyo that is hushed, vacant, yet undeniably alive. A Tokyo bathed in a serene, chromatic glow. Aurélien Aumond Aurélien Aumond Aurélien Aumond Aurélien Aumond Imagine wandering through the quiet expanse of Harumi and Fukagawa, the city’s pulse slowed to a gentle rhythm. The absence of human noise becomes a canvas upon which the city’s architecture reveals its true character. Towering structures and humble homes alike are transformed by a masterful interplay of light and shadow. It’s a world where colors seem intensified, textures heightened.  Aurélien Aumond Aur&eacu... More

We renovated a wooden two-story house at a 15 min walk from Kunitachi station. Located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Kunitachi is an area popular among students as three big universities reside there. Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura The house was built in the late 70s and had some plumbing problems that had to be taken care of before someone could live there and therefore it sat empty for several years before the owners got introduced to our Kariage project. Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura At zero cost for the owner we renovate and then sublease old vacant houses. The project started as a reaction to Japan’s continuing akiya (空き家) problem, as there is more than 10 million abandoned properties in Japan.... More

This two-story house from the seventies is located in Akabane, a residential area with a retro atmosphere on the border of Tokyo and Saitama prefectures. Popular with Tokyo's workers, the area comes alive at night when the narrow alleys around the station glow with red paper lanterns, and revellers spill out of inexpensive bars and restaurants.  Akira Nakamura The owner, who was born and lived in the house until elementary school, inherited it from his parents. When the family first moved out to another area of Tokyo, the property was put up for rent. Then, after the tenants left, it sat empty for more than 10 years. Akira Nakamura The owner already possessed a place to live in, but didn’t want to sell the inherited h... More

Located on the 30th floor of the Hinokicho The Tower in Akasaka, a central area of Tokyo, this project was the consultation for an interior apartment renovation. All the 322 units and the communal spaces of the tower were completed by Kengo Kuma office in 2018, leaving the apartments customisable by the owner with outsourcing architects. Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura Considering how recent the whole construction is, the only necessary modifications regarded the layout disposition and the aesthetic of the materials used. Hence, the project started from the requests of the client to add a projector space in the living room, while bringing more natural light in the rather dark hallway. Akira Nakamura Akira Nakamura To e... More

LuxLinea is an ophthalmology clinic in Shibuya, Tokyo. The new addition to Total Eye Care clinics in the heart of the Japanese capital takes place on the ground floor of a mixed-use building. Clear glass on two sides visually connects the space to its surrounding urban environment. Nacása & Partners Inc. Nacása & Partners Inc. LuxLinea design addresses two main issues: glass reflections, and patients’ privacy. The clinic operates mostly during daytime, when the bright daylight reflects on the glass, obstructing visibility to the inside. To counter this effect, a series of intriguing vertical lines of light are emitted from the inside attracting the curiosity of the passerby. Nacása & Part... More

Design Team: Koen Klinkers, Will Galloway, Daniel Yu  First built in the 1970's the apartment was cramped by contemporary standards, even for Tokyo, with low ceilings and short and narrow rooms. After stripping the space down to a single room, the design takes a hint from the overlapping spaces in the city and is composed from three simple shapes. A grey wood box houses the laundry, a concrete box contains the bath and sink, while an S shaped partition forms a closet and space for the fridge. The updated space is simple but comfortable and connects to the city perfectly. Toshiyuki Yano Toshiyuki Yano Toshiyuki Yano Toshiyuki Yano Toshiyuki Yano More

Design team: Koen Klinkers, Will Galloway, Daniel Yu, Evan Taylor The core business of Liveperson is communication and connection over the internet. What they do is spatially invisible. And yet they are keen to work in a place that is obviously of Tokyo and Japan. For us it made the best sense to take inspiration from the crowded centers of the city like Shibuya crossing. At first blush it is a confusing place, but in reality the crossing is highly effective at communication, and ironically is a landmark for Tokyo-ites and visitors, used as a gathering place for meetings, often by those who have never been to the city before. A true contemporary space it is defined by people and activity rather than iconic objects. Caption Liveperson... More