Workssearch results

Kagaya is a renowned Japanese inn with its main branch located in Wakura Onsen, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture. In January 2024, Kagaya suffered extensive damage from an earthquake that struck off the coast of the Noto Peninsula. However, a pine tree stood tall at the entrance of the inn, undeterred by the disaster, and its majestic presence deeply moved people. Therefore, in creating this new store, we adopted the "pine tree," which is revered as an object of prayer in the Noto region, as concept design concept. On the counter ceiling in the center of the store, a design made of interwoven pine needles symbolically represents the pine tree reaching towards the heavens. The facade features concept design that represents pine needles reaching towards the Noto sky, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for visitors. Furthermore, the silver-threaded obi, which has been passed down through generations of female innkeepers, is displayed on a shelf behind the counter, and handcrafted items and works of art that have been passed down through generations at the inn are scattered throughout, carrying on the beauty and craftsmanship of Noto. We have created the store together with Kagaya, drawing parallels between their tradition, spirit of hospitality, and desire for a comeback, and the vitality and strength of the pine trees of Noto.

We were in charge of design, layout production, and construction of Mazda's manufacturer showroom in the Tokyo metropolitan area, aimed at allowing customers to experience and interact with the brand. The "TRANS" in "MAZDA TRANS AOYAMA" means "to change, to go beyond," and it embodies the meaning of "we want this to be a place that becomes a catalyst for positive change." The first floor is a special space where you can experience the brand, featuring a cafe and goods shop supervised by Itsuki Coffee, which was founded in Miyajima, Hiroshima, while the second floor is a comfortable space where art displays, events, and workshops can be held.

This is a renovation project for the Omiya Center Building, located at the west exit of Omiya Station, one of Japan's leading terminal stations. After conducting a survey of the area around Omiya Station and identifying the challenges of the building, which is over 30 years old, we adopted the theme of "balancing dignity and comfort" for the renovation concept design. Throughout the renovation process, we focused on improving the satisfaction of existing tenants and aimed to enhance the building's presence in terms of functionality and concept design compared to surrounding buildings. By harmoniously balancing the "dignity" inherent in the existing stone materials with the "comfort" created by lighter materials, we minimized waste disposal due to demolition and created a cost-effective concept design that is mindful of sustainability through the fusion of old and new materials.

The "Water Supply Zone" at the Miyagase Dam Water and Energy Museum's Water Museum needed renovations after more than 20 years since its opening, and was refurbished to coincide with the museum's 25th anniversary. displays 's concept is to create learning opportunities about the "water supply business" (introducing the role of the water utility) and to change awareness about "tap water" (re-recognizing water resources and learning about the global environment). Through learning about the process, equipment, and related work involved in getting rainwater stored in the dam to tap water in homes—a process rarely seen in everyday life—visitors can learn to appreciate tap water, which is indispensable to daily life, and the importance of social infrastructure. Furthermore, since the Miyagase Dam and the surrounding area are tourist destinations, the main target audience is elementary school field trips from the surrounding area and families visiting on weekends. The exhibition features highly engaging digital content that combines live-action footage and computer graphics, including guidance videos on large screens, virtual content where visitors can operate a drone to inspect water supply facilities, and simulations of water purification processes in rivers. In addition, there are displays that allow visitors to experience firsthand the work of the water supply associations that support the water supply business, making it an enjoyable experience for both those with a specific purpose in mind and those without.

Approximately 400 years ago, the first Osaka Castle, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, fell during the Summer Siege of Osaka and was buried underground by the Tokugawa Shogunate with a massive amount of earth. This project aims to excavate and restore the Toyotomi-era stone walls from underground after 400 years and open them to the public. In this unique facility, which allows visitors to descend into an underground space to view the ruins, we have strived to create displays that convey the unique value of the Toyotomi-era stone walls, which differ from the stone walls rebuilt by the Tokugawa Shogunate. We have constructed displays story and presentation that allows visitors to relive the process of identifying the Toyotomi-era stone walls, their characteristics, and the turbulent history they have experienced. Furthermore, by overlapping this with the process of visiting the ruins, which involves going up and down from above ground to underground and back to above ground, we have created an even more special displays space. In addition, while valuing the presentation of the stone walls themselves, we have conveyed the inherent charm of the ruins through an integrated presentation that links video, lighting, and sound.

This project aims to revive the salon, a welcoming space within Kinokuniya Bookstore, on the top floor of their flagship Shinjuku main store building. When the building was constructed in 1964, founder Shoichi Tanabe created a salon that served as a social gathering place for literary figures. Over time, that space was lost, but in order to bring it back to life in the modern era, following the Shinjuku main store renovation that took place from 2021 to 2023, our company was in charge of design, layout, production, and construction for this new project.

Air Water Hokkaido's new facility, "Air Water Forest," is an open innovation facility that addresses social issues in order to realize a sustainable society and a safe, secure, and prosperous life. Within this facility, the restaurant and cafe "Eureka" was created as a place to disseminate and share "agriculture and food," one of the Air Water Group's initiatives. The space was designed in conjunction with the architectural concept design so that the facility's concept of "sustainable and prosperous living" can be felt even in the restaurant. Just like the name "Eureka" (meaning "I found it! I understand!" in ancient Greek), concept design allows customers to discover the rich land of Hokkaido and the true deliciousness of the ingredients nurtured by that land.

This project involved concept design, interiors renovation, and environmental features of the children's corner at the Nakano City Egota Library, located in a quiet residential area and a gathering place for children from the neighborhood. On the first floor, we replaced the aging interiors materials and created bookshelves unique to a children's corner, capable of accommodating large books and picture books. We also created a magazine area for parents to enjoy, creating a space where families can spend time together. In this space, where the library's original characters "Shishimaru" and "Egotan," based on the "Egota Lion Dance," a Tokyo Metropolitan Government-designated intangible folk cultural property, greet visitors, we aimed to give children the impression that the library is a fun place. On the second floor, we installed a new counter and chairs. By using acrylic material for part of the counter, it has become a space where one can quietly read while feeling the warmth of the sunlight.

Ishikawa Takuboku Memorial Museum, opened in 1970 to honor and preserve materials of Takuboku Ishikawa, one of the most famous poets in modern Japan, will be reopened in 2025 with the addition of Tamayama History and Folklore Museum. The Takuboku Memorial Museum is designed to connect the two museums based on the concept of "hometown" left by Takuboku. The Takuboku Memorial Museum focuses on the Meiji period when Takuboku lived, while the History and Folklore Museum focuses on the 30's of the Showa period, allowing visitors to see the present-day Yushan as well. The Ishikawa Takuboku Memorial Museum uses the entire space to present a huge timeline of Takuboku's 26 years of life and the people's activities to honor him from the time of his death to the present day. Below the timeline, you can see the collection of Takuboku's works and his words at that time. displays The symbol displays in the center shows the organ that Takuboku actually played, and on the big screen in the background, you can choose to watch two original animations, "Takuboku's Life" and "Takuboku and His Hometown". There is also a planning displays room and a library reading corner. In the Tamayama History and Folklore Museum, folk materials displays donated by local residents, as well as folk performing arts and natural features are preserved and can be viewed using video and information retrieval systems. displays "Connecting Tamayama", a multi-purpose hall where lectures and workshops can be held in the hallway connecting the two museums, and shelves displays for mini-projects and other activities, The "Show Storage" is a part of the storage room with a glass wall. From the windows, you can see the Saito family residence where Takuboku once lived and Shibumin Elementary School.

This facility is a showroom for the sale of condominiums by Mitsui Fudosan Residential. Located on the first floor of a building in the heart of Sendai, and highly visible from the street, the space was designed with the concept of "EN - a place that connects people to people, the city to people, inside and outside, and relationships," using the image of the "engawa" (veranda) often seen in traditional Japanese houses as inspiration. In the central presentation space, a condominium model and video are used to create an exciting displays will welcome prospective residents. In the surrounding park-like space that connects to the outside, business discussions about "housing" can also be held. Furthermore, in order to promote diversity and inclusion, the company has introduced a para-art subscription service in some of its condominiums in the Sendai area, an initiative aimed at supporting independence and providing opportunities for people to thrive. To let more people know about this initiative, art is displayed in part of the meeting space, and a mini-gallery introducing para-artists has been set up in a space that resembles a condominium balcony and is easily visible from the sidewalk.

We exhibited "Being: The Existence of Furniture" at "DESIGNART TOKYO 2024," Japan's largest concept design and art festival (theme: "Reframing - The Beginning of Transformation -"). "Being: The Existence of Furniture" is a project that reconsiders the relationship between people and objects. In our projects concept design spaces, we create many objects every day, but behind the scenes, we feel a great challenge in that these objects are discarded or left unused even though they are still perfectly usable. When we consider situations where an object is used carefully for a long time, a relationship is often formed in which an attachment to the object sprouts. At such times, we realize that we have gone from a feeling of "owning and using" the object to a feeling of caring for it and "being together" with it. Therefore, we thought that noticing this change in feeling might be one way to solve the problem. The furniture presented in the project is not particularly sturdy or functionally superior. Rather, it has a certain instability and capriciousness, and possesses a nature that makes you want to care for it. If furniture transforms from something that "exists" to something that "is there," how will we interact with it? Through a series of experimental concept design in this project, we pose a question to society about the transformation of value between people and objects. Our company's vision is to "unlock all possibilities of space starting from the 'creativity' of each individual," and we are committed to creating spaces that enrich people's lives. As part of this, we challenge the social issues we face from a creative perspective and continue to exhibit at concept design events both domestically and internationally to create a cycle of communication, exchange, and innovation through output.

This project involves the complete renovation of the retail and environmental areas from the building's entrance to the lobby (grand hall) of the Takarazuka Grand Theater, which is celebrating its 111th anniversary. Based on the concept of "Dreams begin here," the aim was to create a space that would continue to deliver dreams to many customers and be loved by them, while carefully inheriting the charm of the Takarazuka Grand Theater that has been nurtured over the years. From the moment you step inside the building, you will be enveloped in the glamorous world of Takarazuka Revue, and the space will be an extraordinary and exhilarating experience that leads you to dreams and emotions. By unifying concept design of interiors environment and creating the world of Takarazuka Revue throughout the entire building, we planned a space that would make the time before and after the performance more comfortable, and that could be enjoyed by customers who are not attending a performance. By extracting motifs that represent "Takarazuka-ness" from elements of Takarazuka Revue's stages and shows, as well as the building of the Grand Theater, and reconstructing them as a modern concept design, we have created a space that will be loved even more by existing fans, and will also attract new fans, leading to an enhancement of the brand value that looks ahead to the future of Takarazuka Revue.

This is a project for the all-day dining restaurant "MONDO Sagami Ohno" that will open on the 7th floor of Odakyu Hotel Century Sagami Ohno. The restaurant will have a spacious space of over 666 square meters and a huge wood-fired oven, which will be the symbol of the restaurant "MONDO". Based on the theme of "from the mountain to the table", the restaurant will bring out the original flavor of the ingredients through wood-fired cooking, and serve simple and innovative flavors. Guests can casually enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, including a lunch buffet featuring carefully made handmade bread and steaks baked in a wood-fired oven. The restaurant will also feature "BAR ROJY", where you can casually enjoy authentic cocktails and rare old whiskeys, and "Kogasaka Bake Sagami Ohno", where you can purchase freshly baked bread and baked goods, proposing a free, warm and unique restaurant experience to the people of the city.

Set against the backdrop of 1920s America during the construction era, this bar is based on the "speakeasy" culture of that time, where alcohol was illegally sold under the guise of beauty salons or law offices. JANAI HOTEL is the third location in the "JANAI" series of secret bars, incorporating the speakeasy mechanism, creating a gathering place only for those who find the concept intriguing. Opening a painting that doesn't look like a door leads to a secret bar accessible only to those who decipher the access code. Our company was responsible for design, layout, and architectural design.

This project is a phased renewal project that will take place over a period of approximately three years from 2022 to 2024. This is the third phase, and involves renovating the 46th floor "SKY VIEW" and "Entrance," transforming the building into a place that will generate new excitement and interaction.