schemata architects brings plant life into tokyo office space

overlooking a public park in aoyama, central tokyo, jo nagasaka / schemata architects have realized a shop and office space comprised across two floors.

the ‘nakagawa masashichi shoten omotesando’ explores a ‘shop-in-shop’ concept and during its development, the design team opted to minimize the amount of infill construction. the resulting office space is kept simple and minimal. taking advantage of its leafy location, the interior uses bespoke furniture to define its character.

the open plan office space features a series of OSB-fabricated desks, and at the center of each workspace a circular hole has been cut out for a plant to emerge. this simple yet playful detail complements the office’s parkland landscape and highlights the traditional japanese gardening concept of the ‘borrowed scenery’. by integrating plants into the furniture and using the surrounding natural scenery as the backdrop, this adds warmth to the otherwise cold, concrete setting.

‘at first I was pleasantly surprised to discover this land filled with such lush greenery in aoyama, in the middle of tokyo. I wanted to provide the same kind of pleasant surprise to customers of this shop, both on the first and second floors. the building stood there, simple and open towards the existing greenery, and seemed to harmonize with the vitality of the land.’ – jo nagasaka, schemata architects

 

the two-storey shop and office space overlooks a park in central tokyo

 

plants grow out of each table – adding warmth and complementing its park background

 

the tables have been made from OSB board

 

the interiors highlight the traditional japanese gardening concept of the ‘borrowed scenery’

 

simple and plain furnishings have been used throughout