Net Chart Japan — Yokohama: no keys, and a bar that opens after six

Concept

A rule with two people in it

Net Chart Japan gives free drinks after work, alcohol included, and attaches one condition: two or more employees have to be using the space. It is a small piece of drafting that does a lot of work. It rules out drinking alone at your desk, and it makes the bar counter what the company wants it to be — a reason for two people who have not spoken all day to end up at the same counter.

The same instinct runs through the rest of the floor. Nobody carries a key or a card, because every door reads faces; the entrance is built around a bench that wraps a planted bed, so the first thing in the office is somewhere to sit; and the newspapers and trade magazines the company subscribes to are left where anyone can pick them up.

01 · The entrance

Timber, glass, and a bench around a tree

The entrance sets timber against glass, with a bench built around planting at its centre. Every door beyond it opens on face recognition.

02 · The free space

A counter, and a rule

The free space has a bar counter and doubles as the party space for internal events. After work the drinks are free, on condition that two or more people are there.

03 · The reading

Newspapers, left out

Newspapers and trade magazines are subscribed to by the company and left where any employee can read them.

04 · The working floor

Free address, a monitor each

The working floor is free address, with a monitor at every seat and planting placed through it.

05 · The meeting rooms

Two colours, and a long table

Meeting rooms run from small to large, with monitors and whiteboards. Two of them are given strong single colours.