Works#Renewal/Renovation

In the renovation of the Aisin Com Center History Zone, we revised the exhibition layout, which previously displayed all products in chronological order, and reorganized it under the theme of "Social Challenges and Aisin's Challenges in Each Era." By carefully selecting the exhibited products, we organized the information into a memorable amount for visitors, aiming to create a space that more clearly conveys the company's journey and the trajectory of its challenges. In terms of spatial design, we used the shelves and warehouses inside the factory, which are the basis of manufacturing, as motifs, and developed it as a museum that gives a sense of the industrial site. Furthermore, we have spatialized elements that symbolize the precision processing technology that has supported Aisin's manufacturing, creating an exhibition space in which products, technology, and history can be experienced together. Our company was in charge of everything from planning, design and planning to content design and production, and construction.

Sano Service Area in Tochigi Prefecture has finally reopened after its long-awaited renovation. Our company, under the supervision of our group company Nomura Arcs (which handled the construction), was in charge of the design and planning. We maximized the advantages of the service area's rich natural environment and the fact that visitors can walk between the inbound and outbound lanes, and carried out a renovation that envisioned the entire service area as a single "park." It has been reborn as a relaxing space where visitors can spend their time as they please. The commercial facilities are themed as "An Inspiring Market Where You're Sure to Discover Something New," and are designed as a place where visitors can experience local food, specialties, and culture. Under the design supervision of Kengo Kuma & Associates, we emphasized a sense of unity and openness between indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a space that warmly welcomes visitors.

The Lake Biwa Museum, a long-established museum deeply rooted in the local community, underwent a partial renovation, using the slogan "A New Aquarium Created by Everyone" and raising support through crowdfunding. The newly installed Biwa Giant Catfish tank further highlights the presence of the catfish as the master of Lake Biwa, and has been revamped with a multifaceted exhibit that includes a deep-water and shallow-water layout and a hands-on comparison of four species of catfish native to Japan. The new Ayu (sweetfish) tank features a tank display that captures a scene from fishing, and the spatial design that traverses the lake's surface and bottom, centering on the interaction between people and fish, conveying the cycle of life in the lake in an experiential way. Our company was in charge of the exhibition design and planning, signage and graphic design, fixture production, content design and production, and exhibition construction.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Kirin Beer Yokohama Factory, we have partially renovated our visitor facilities. By incorporating the diverse charms hidden within the Kirin Beer company and the Ichiban Shibori product throughout the facility, we have created a place that enhances engagement with the Kirin Beer Yokohama Factory, starting from the interests and concerns of each visitor. The waiting area where visitors spend time before the tour begins has been renovated as "KIRIN HISTORY WALK YOKOHAMA," where visitors can learn about the history of beer and Kirin. The design features bricks that represent the history of the company's founding in Yokohama and is based on a refreshing blue color. To mark this 100th anniversary milestone, we have created content that will not only be enjoyable for general visitors but also contribute to boosting the motivation of our employees. In the "Ichiban Shibori GALLERY," we are disseminating information that deepens affection and familiarity with our flagship product, "Ichiban Shibori." Furthermore, we have installed unique beer-themed photo spots throughout the facility, creating an experience that makes visitors want to capture memories of their visit in photographs. Our company was responsible for planning, design, signage and graphic design, fixture manufacturing, content design, and construction.

We completely renovated an existing hotel in the Yokohama Minato Mirai area, which boasts excellent access to major tourist attractions and business hubs, and rebranded it as "Hilton Garden Inn Yokohama Minato Mirai." This 20-story hotel has 228 guest rooms and is the second Hilton Garden Inn in Japan, following Kyoto. Our company was responsible for the design and construction of the lobby, restaurant, fitness center, guest rooms, and back office. Our design concept was "A relaxing hotel where you can feel the sea breeze," aiming to create a comfortable and welcoming space.

This is a renovation plan for the South Wing Exhibition Room on the first floor of the Japan Gallery at the National Museum of Nature and Science, a building designated as an Important Cultural Property. The theme is "The Art of Observing Nature." Focusing on the meticulous observational skills of our ancestors who observed all things, the plan aims to provide visitors with a new perspective when viewing the masterpiece collections in the exhibition room, and to encourage easy viewing by improving the explanatory plans for each section. Care has also been taken to create a space that makes the most of the dignified image of the Important Cultural Property building.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shinmachi Bettei was developed in 2014 on Shinmachi Street, a street that retains a strong sense of Kyoto's character, on the site of the former Matsuzakaya Kyoto purchasing office, based on the concept of "tradition, inheritance, and regeneration." Architectural materials and storehouses from the former Matsuzakaya Kyoto purchasing office have been passed down to the current hotel as part of the history and culture of the area. In this renovation, while inheriting the concept from the time of opening, the hotel focused on renovating guest rooms, the lobby, and back-of-house areas to respond to diversifying accommodation needs and changes in hotel operations. The aim was to create a space that enhances the comfort of the hotel while carefully preserving its historical background.

To coincide with the launch of BEAMS' 50th anniversary celebrations, we were in charge of the renovation of "BEAMS Harajuku," the flagship store of the men's casual label "BEAMS." While making the most of the existing building's features, we restructured the architectural plan, including refreshing the spiral staircase, a symbolic element of the store, to create a flagship store space that combines the unique worldview of BEAMS with a sense of flow and ease of movement.

This project involved the renovation of the first-floor entrance hall of Osaka Red Cross Hospital. Our company was responsible for planning, design, and construction. The entrance hall is the main entrance to the entire hospital and is the face of the hospital. It is not merely an entrance and exit, but a place that serves as a point of contact with the outside world, and at the same time, it is positioned as a central place within the hospital, aiming to create a place where people gather and liven up the atmosphere. To realize this, we proposed a space that would bring new value to this location while also promoting the Osaka Red Cross Hospital brand.

"Wa no I Kakunodate" is a hotel that breathes new life into historical buildings such as storehouses and Japanese houses that are over 100 years old, located in Kakunodate, the "Little Kyoto of Michinoku" famous for its samurai residences. In addition to the "Samurai Storehouse," "School Storehouse," and "Fabric Storehouse" that were already open in Phase I, three guest rooms have been added to part of the main house: the "Sakurajin Room" as the main room, the "Library Storehouse" where ancient documents and ceramics were preserved, and the "Silkworm Storehouse" where silkworms are said to have been raised. The "Rice Storehouse," where rice was stored, has also been converted into a restaurant. To allow guests to spend time while feeling the culture, history, and crafts of Akita, each guest room is themed after its original use and furnished with items that evoke the life of the time. The hotel has added functions as an inn while utilizing the old building materials, creating a space where guests can imagine themselves as if they have traveled back in time.

Masataka Taketsuru (founder of Nikka Whisky), who dreamed of creating authentic blended whisky in Japan, imported a "Coffey still" (a continuous distillation machine) from Scotland in 1963 to produce grain whisky for blending. The Coffey still, which had been in operation at the Miyagikyo Distillery for many years, will be retired in 2025 with the replacement of the world's first Japanese-made Coffey still. A part of it has now been moved to the entrance hall and put on display.

OSAKA INNOVATION HUB (OIH) was established in 2013 as a global innovation hub that attracts talent, information, and capital from both Japan and abroad, creating an environment where innovation can be fostered and driving the development of Osaka and the Kansai region. This time, in order to create an environment in which startups and the ecosystem that supports them can grow, the facility has been renovated with the concepts of "gathering," "connecting," and "growing," and in order to expand the facility area and enhance functions to promote interaction and strengthen support for startups, our company was in charge of design, layout, signage and graphic concept design, environmental features, building execution, and exhibit execution.

Since its opening in 1990, the Kagoshima City Science Museum has aimed to foster scientific creativity and improve scientific knowledge by introducing the laws of nature, science and technology, and space in an easy-to-understand manner. In this project, two displays areas have been renovated and renamed "Kagoshima and Space" and "Science in Everyday Life." Aiming to be a science museum rooted in the local community, unique to a regional city, the museum has incorporated many elements that are highly compatible with the region, such as displays that take advantage of Kagoshima's characteristics as it is home to a JAXA rocket launch site, and interactive devices featuring graphics of the local specialty, Sakurajima radish. In order to lower the barrier to entry for science and create a place where curiosity and a spirit of inquiry are naturally fostered, the museum has incorporated many digital technologies as well as analog displays. In "Gravity Challenge," one of the main displays, a character that reflects the movements of visitors appears on a screen and performs track and field events on various planets, creating a highly game-like content in which visitors can experience and learn about the differences in gravity on each planet. Furthermore, we developed an official app linked to displays, introducing a system that allows visitors to acquire over 100 different items online through quizzes and AR experiences. This improved visitor engagement and created an experience that encourages repeat visits, while also strengthening ties with the local community by standardizing its implementation on educational devices distributed throughout the city.

This flagship store translates YOKO CHAN's aesthetic of stripping away ornamentation to highlight the inner self and body of the wearer into a tangible space. Located a step away from the hustle and bustle of Roppongi, it aims to be a tranquil space where visitors can be freed from the noise of information and confront their own bodies and senses. In addition to sculptural forms and soft, curved plaster walls, the designer personally visited the production areas to find veneer and chunks of cedar root that had long been stored in warehouses, which were used as symbolic fixtures. The flowing curves drawn from the stone and wood grains are derived from the inner beauty of women that the brand cherishes.

This project involved the renovation of Daiko Electric Co., Ltd.'s Head Office office (5th and 6th floors). For this Head Office office function refresh in approximately 20 years, our Tokyo and Osaka team members collaborated to clarify the current situation and challenges through interviews, site visits, and workshops regarding management strategy, future work styles, and corporate culture, thereby defining the ideal workplace. We also collaborated with Daiko Electric's lighting design team, TACT, to develop a space centered on lighting proposals. Our aim was to create a space where each employee can engage with "light," experience its value, and discuss it.