Nihon Seido — Arakawa: a 50-year-old bronze company building, warmed up

Concept

Warmth

New walls were built a little in front of the old ones and filled with insulation. Ceilings and floors were insulated too, and the windows were changed to double glazing.

Shoes come off at the door, which keeps the rooms easy to clean and extends the life of the building.

01 · Connection

A window to Okaya

Near a counter by the stair, a monitor connects to the company’s factory in Okaya, Nagano, so staff in the two places start talking.

02 · Old and new

Keeping what was there

Things that had always been in the building were kept as part of the design, while the rooms were updated for today’s way of working.