{"id":297770,"date":"2026-02-23T07:19:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T07:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/297770\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T07:19:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T07:19:27","slug":"tokyo-architects-renovate-own-office-using-reclaimed-materials-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/297770\/","title":{"rendered":"Tokyo architects renovate own office using reclaimed materials | News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/p>\n

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Tokyo<\/a>-based firm SYMBOLPLUS has completed a renovation<\/a> of its own office. Completed at the beginning of this year, the project was an exercise in exploring how workplace design<\/a> can respond to hybrid working patterns through material reuse<\/a>, minimal intervention, and long-term adaptability.<\/p>\n

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Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/p>\n

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Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/p>\n

The office<\/a> is housed in a timber structure owned by architect Akio Hayashi, whose advocacy for natural materials informed the design approach. The approach to the renovation prioritized the retention of the existing building fabric and the avoidance of synthetic materials, focusing instead on continuity between the original structure and new additions.<\/p>\n

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Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/a>Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/p>\n

The design preserves the building\u2019s timber<\/a> frame and introduces new elements that follow the space\u2019s proportions and structural rhythm. Rather than creating visual contrast, the intervention aims to maintain the spatial warmth of the existing structure, allowing old and new components to coexist with minimal disruption.<\/p>\n

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Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/a>Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/p>\n

Material selection plays a central role in the project. Red earth from Ishikawa was applied as layered plaster by local artisans, with a tone adjusted to complement the timber interior. Shoji partitions were produced using reclaimed Tosa washi paper<\/a> that had originally been destined for disposal. The paper was layered to improve durability while retaining translucency.<\/p>\n

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Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/a>Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/p>\n

The shoji partitions provide flexible spatial organization, enabling the office to shift between open-plan working and more private meeting areas. In enclosed spaces, the panels also conceal shelving and equipment, helping to maintain a visually restrained environment.<\/p>\n

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Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/a>Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi<\/p>\n

Traditional construction techniques are used throughout the renovation. Sliding partitions operate without metal fittings, while rotating ceiling panels conceal lighting that is only revealed when needed. The elements are intended to support long-term adaptability rather than serve as stylistic references.<\/p>\n

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\t\tSimilar articles on Archinect that may interest you…<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" anchor Image credit: Keishin Horikoshi Tokyo-based firm SYMBOLPLUS has…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":297771,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[442,498,499,500,501,156,111,139,69],"class_list":["post-297770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=297770"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297770\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/297771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=297770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=297770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}