NIPPAN GROUP Tokyo Head Quarter designed by KOKUYO Co.,Ltd.
"Creating a new culture” was the goal of this project. NIPPAN Group has built the most significant wholesale book business in Japan. As they challenged themselves to create new business opportunities beyond what they already had, there were two key themes that we tried to develop and integrate into this project. One is to make new engagement opportunities for people, and the other is to create new relationships between people and books. We wanted to create unique and diverse work styles where individuals can be themselves without being constrained by locations, time and old rules.
In conventional plain and flat workspaces, people's flows are linear and uneventful. The bookshelves are often placed on the backside wall, which makes them harder to recognize and access, and gives fewer chances for people to pick a book and read.
To solve the issue, we designed an organic hill for people and books in the office. The arch creates natural lines of people and stacks of bookshelves as if you see the city view from afar. The ceiling has low arches that amplify depth, creating a three-dimensional and expansive space.
Between the arched bookshelves, people will find unique spaces. During breaks and between meetings, they can utilize this space to have spontaneous catchups or randomly walk in to find the book they may like.
The space and the arched hills are purposefully designed so that it naturally guides the people to pick and read the book, relax and enjoy the time, and be inspired to create something new.
1. Organic line
From the ceiling's arch to the arc-shaped tables and bookshelves- it creates a comfortable, soft, and flexible atmosphere in an office space that tends to be linear and firm. People can feel as if they are lying on the hill.
2. Sustainable material
The materials used for this space, such as the bricks and the wood, are organic and have a unique touch. The arch is created with a mixture of gravel to create a stratum-like texture. The lounge's mini table has a top plate aligned with tiles made from compressed magazines and used paper, and it reminds us the patterns of the street. The large center table in the café has dried leaves mixed in, which we collected from the building's square.
3. Loose conversation through books
The displayed books were hand-picked by the employees, and you can find a special note from the selector once you open the book. The note will tell you how special the book is, and will have a special and personalized message for the reader. We designed a way of communicating through books.
4. Sign design with a book
At the entrance of the conference room, there will be a blank notebook with the room name, gently placed on the wall.
Designer Profile
For more information, please visit: https://www.kokuyo.com/