Pillar Grove Office by Mamiya Shinichi Design Studio

Architects: Mamiya Shinichi Design Studio.
Location: Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Area: 250.02sqm.
Year: 2013.
Photography: Toshiyuki Yano.

Mamiya Shinichi Design Studio have designed their own workspace, located in a suburb of Nagoya City on a site facing a major arterial road. A large development project being undertaken in the surrounding area will transform the site in years to come. The following points were focused on to carry out the project: creating the image of a fresh space that will play a key role in the company’s future development, encouraging rich communication between the staff and exploring the possibilities of a timber structure.

Internally, 30 columns were placed in a hash-tag layout allowing the creation of a structure that has no load bearing walls inside. Free-arrangement of the slabs produced differences in height, allowing the staff to choose their own custom spaces in the office. On the exterior, same-sized openings cover all four walls and give a classic look to the main façade, giving the building a sense of formality.

All of these elements came together to create an intentionally designed space with surprising forms and functionalities. Characteristics such as windows cut-off by slabs, windows placed in inaccessible locations, and the staircase peaking out from between slabs contribute to a rich, unusual space—a space that provides the feeling of being in a grove, accomplished through the sunlight shining down via windows on the walls surrounding the inside, even though the space was created artificially. The rule that presided over the production of this space may appear to recall postmodern architecture. However, if postmodern architecture is recognised as specialising in meaning, this structure has both the strength of meaning and space. The reconsideration of historical value is imbued in this architecture.