Autodesk — Tokyo: kintsugi and kumiko in an inherited office

Concept

An inherited space

The architects explain that taking over a finished office is the hardest kind of project: the point of taking it over is to change little, so new needs must fit into a space that is largely complete.

The existing colour palette was dull, and the client also wanted branding and identity features.

01 · Kintsugi

Repair as beauty

Kintsugi mends broken pottery with gold, showing that restoring old things can make them more beautiful. The idea guided how the existing interior was kept and enhanced rather than erased.

02 · Kumiko

Lattice as a pattern

Kumiko, the Japanese craft of fine wooden lattice, was used as a visual element, so that the Japanese reference goes beyond a surface decoration.