SYMBOLPLUS OFFICE
A quiet workplace shaped by continuity and material restraint, SYMBOLPLUS OFFICE sits within a timber building in Tokyo, reimagining how an office can remain relevant in a hybrid era through reuse, natural materials, and architectural humility.
Conceived as the renovation of SYMBOLPLUS’s own workplace, the project occupies a structure owned by architect Akio Hayashi, whose long advocacy for timber construction informed the approach from the outset. Rather than introducing a new identity, the intervention builds upon what already existed, preserving the original wooden framework and allowing its warmth and proportions to guide every addition. Old and new coexist without hierarchy, fostering an environment grounded in continuity between architecture, material, and time.
The brief was deliberately restrained: avoid synthetic finishes and work with the building as found. This ethos shaped a home for work that feels embedded within its host rather than imposed upon it. New elements echo the scale and character of the existing structure, encouraging a sense of calm through alignment and subtlety.
Material selection carries a sense of memory. Red earth sourced from Ishikawa was applied in layered plaster by artisans, its hue carefully tuned to sit alongside the timber structure. Shoji partitions were produced using reclaimed Tosa washi that had been destined for disposal. Too delicate for architectural use in its original form, the paper was layered to achieve strength while retaining its translucency.
These shoji operate as flexible boundaries, allowing areas to shift between openness and privacy. In meeting zones, they conceal shelving and equipment, preserving visual clarity while accommodating the practical demands of daily work.
Adaptability is achieved through restraint. Sliding shoji panels move without metal fittings, relying instead on traditional carpentry. Rotating ceiling panels reveal lighting only when needed, reducing visual noise across the interior. These gestures are pragmatic systems, enabling the office to respond quietly to changing needs over time.
Rather than over-prescribing function, the project embraces evolution. Light, use, and daily occupation are treated as integral components of the architecture, supporting a workplace that remains open to future change while anchored in its past.
SYMBOLPLUS OFFICE is conceived as a working environment shaped by values of longevity, reuse, and respect for existing architecture. Through modest interventions and careful material choices, the renovation demonstrates how architecture can be extended through continuity, offering a socially and environmentally responsible model for contemporary practice.
