Office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi brings the outside in with hanging baskets and a shed

Japanese architect Tsubasa Iwahashi has added hanging plants and a shed-like meeting room to an office in Osaka, which workers can take a peek at through boxy windows (+ slideshow).

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects renovated the corridor of 11 office units on one floor of a building in Osaka’s Nishi-ku district. Entitled Hut on the Corridor, the garden-inspired project creates a common area where employees can take time out from their work.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

The main intervention is a wooden hut in the centre of the space, which can be used as a meeting area or a quiet chill-out zone. This structure has only three walls, so people step inside by walking around to its rear.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

The hut doesn’t have any windows, but a large skylight helps to bring in light. There’s also a small peephole in one corner that reveals the feet of anyone walking by.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

“Going up you take off your shoes, so in a manner different from the communication that takes place in each private room, the hut of wood creates new value, connections and ideas,” said Iwahashi.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

New domestic-style windows were added between the corridors and the office units. Each one features a boxy wooden frame, where plants and other items can be displayed.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

The garden aesthetic is emphasised by hanging baskets suspended from the ceiling. The architects also made a small perforation in one wall to suggest a mouse hole.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

Signage is kept to a minimum. A simple floor plan is marked onto the walls of the hut to provide directions, while male and female toilets are symbolised by a pair of cartoon faces.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

Photography is by Takumi Ota.

Here’s a project description from Tsubasa Iwahashi:


A Hut on the Corridor

Like the street and square of the city, was thought people going back and forth, to try to place that meets nearby the place, is the beginning of our image.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

We have renovated the common area of one floor of the rental office building built in ’40s in the city, a small company lined. Up the stairs, step into the legs to the floor, a small hut will appear in front of you.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

We have expanded the part of the narrow existing corridor, and we have created a hut that get together. From a mere corridor, the hut changes the state and landscapes the place.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

Going up you take off your shoes, so in a manner different from the communication that takes place in each private room, the hut of wood located in the centre of the floor creates new value, connections and ideas.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

The corridor was regarded as an external space, lighting and planting the hut is located, the image of the external light, through a window facing there, and then insert the sunshine in each private room. Coupled with people going back and forth, and green hut glimpse through the window of a private room, reminiscent of the street landscape of the city.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

For adjacent building is close, it is intended that in the private room you can not feel the sunlight directly, to provide a new external environment.

Garden-like office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi boasts hanging baskets and a wooden shed

I hope that while they use, environment as grow up, with the passage of time, depending on the season, the landscape as a hut go deeper.

The post Office interior by Tsubasa Iwahashi brings the
outside in with hanging baskets and a shed
appeared first on Dezeen.

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects

A house-shaped shop window frames the interior of this renovated beauty salon in Osaka Prefecture by Japanese office Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects.

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects

Located in the town of Sakai, the Folm Arts beauty salon is designed by Tsubasa Iwahashi to fit in with the surrounding houses. “I wanted to express the close connection of the town and shop,” says the architect.

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects

A chunky wooden frame surrounds the house-shaped glazing, creating the only interruption to an otherwise monolithic facade.

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects

The interior of the salon is divided into two halves, both with clean white walls and pale timber furnishings. A reception desk is positioned at the front, while styling stations line the side wall and a private styling area is tucked away at the back.

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects

Arched mirrors are mounted to the walls and sit proud of the surface.

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects

Other salons to recently complete in Japan include one with a timber lattice along one wall and one with birch trees wedged between the floor and ceiling.

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects

See more salons on Dezeen »
See more architecture in Japan »

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects

Photography is by Yoshiro Masuda.

Read on more a more detailed description from the architects:


Folm arts – Beauty salon

If there is a form of the ideal to the shop, it may be to blend naturally as part of the town. It is that, rather than the sign-lit brilliantly, to continue to be as existence is connected to the people indeed.

This is a renovation of the beauty salon during the ten years have passed since the time along with the town from opening. There was a figure of the shop owner exchanging greetings friends with people of the town who went through the shop front. The figure already seemed to be a part of town. It is a renewal of the shop for 10th year.

The frame of house type reflecting the image of intimate connection with the town provided in the facade of the shop, are beginning to become the icon of the town. While leaving partially, what he continued to use it carefully for many years, we have reconstructed a new space in the shop. In the shop front, the shop owner exchanging greetings with people of the town and is watering trees, as usual. Through the frame of the house type of tunnel shape, connection with the town and the shop, has been practiced in the storefront today.

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects

Overall Excellence *

I thought through the facade of the shop, I wanted to express a close connection of the town and shop. I have decided towards the town, and to have the facade of the shop the opening of the house type. When seen from the street, state of the shop is a glimpse into the frame over the house type. From the shop, view of the street is cut off by the frame of the house type, you can feel the appearance of the street to go move from moment to moment.

The shop and the town, are connected with each other deeply through the frame. And from now, the shop will continue piled up time as part of the town even more

Use of Technology *

The frame type of house that was built in the tunnel shape, is summarising various functions to one. An entrance door, the blind of the measure against the afternoon sun in the evening, the space of a waiting and a bookshelf, and planting, lighting…

Various elements are connected to one and the facade is constituted. It has succeeded in enabling simple composition and excluding an excessive element by collecting various functions to one.

Folm Arts beauty salon by Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects
Floor plan – click for larger image

Impact in Asia *

I believe images with shapes that reminiscent the universal, to function as a common language beyond the language. I think from children to the elderly, regardless of country, language of common give people the impression of a uniform. In addition, the effect, I believe is in Asia with similar climate, culture and distance, I can expect even more.

The frame of the house type cited the shape of a house, as reminiscent of an intimate relationship like a family, it was adopted. As an icon of the town, the shop will be rooted in the town in the future.

Commercial and Societal Success *

People of the town which memorises feeling of a certain kind on a house type frame, and it newly visits. People who point out the facade of a beauty salon and talk. People who wait for people. The passerby who parks and observes a car. Gradually, the beauty salon is beginning to function as an icon of a town. From now on, various dramas will start at the store.

One year, three years, and ten years after. The role of a new store has started as a part of town.

Location: Sakai, Osaka, Japan
Completion: Apr. 2013
Floor Area: 55 sqm

The post Folm Arts beauty salon by
Tsubasa Iwahashi Architects
appeared first on Dezeen.