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Open the Blinds
By : MEC Design International Corp.- Naoki Tamura, Yuka Sato
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 16th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Office / Office 5,400 - 54,000 sq.ft. (500 - 5 000 sq. m.) : Bronze Certification
Categories : Office / Agile work Environment : Gold Certification
Categories : Special Awards / Renovation (Before & After) : Bronze Certification
Client has offices located on second floor of two buildings across Marunouchi Naka-dori Avenue-fashionable commercial street crowded with office workers, visitors, and tourists near Tokyo station.
Despite its location, office was old-fashioned with “window blinds” closed before renovation. Because office divided into two buildings, employees had limited communication due to fixed seating caused “psychological blindness”
Then, we came up with design concept “Open the Blinds.”
We designed for all blinds to be opened. Office is open to city and public, so that employees can work with more vitality and enthusiasm. Goal was to create office that is connected to the city.
We designed as pseudo one-floor building that visually connects two buildings on second floors, while also being conscious of view from outside.
Linear lighting and louvers were installed as if extension of trees along outside to create sense of unity with city; fixtures with plants and variety of outdoor-style furniture were placed in ABW area near symmetrical windows in two buildings to create open working space with courtyard-like view of avenue. Various scenes of active work can be seen from outside.
By utilizing CLT lumber and thinned Japanese timber for fixtures, project takes into consideration reforestation and health of forests, while also creating relaxing and warm space.
By consolidating the flow lines and placing many high tables next to them, communication between employees from different departments is created. By opening some areas of the office to group employees as group offices, interactions and co-creation among group members are also promoted. Office is open to public, creating new value by connecting to company, outside world, city.
Collaboration
