A workspace in Tokyo by Symbolplus reinterprets traditional materials

Symbolplus, a design studio located in Tokyo, completely reshaped its office inside a 23-year-old wooden structure. The renovation not only promotes the use of natural materials and craftsmanship but also endows the workspace with an aura of quietness and permanence.

Project Overview

The original timber framework was preserved to the greatest extent possible while synthetic finishes were replaced with earth-based plaster and layered Japanese paper (washi), for instance. The design kept the building’s structural and material memory visible while introducing a new layout suitable for contemporary work.

Design Logic

The architects chose to pursue what they termed quiet integration. The new structure did not erase the old but read it, used it, and let it become a part of the new environment. Meeting areas are divided and opened by movable screens made of layered washi paper. A large communal desk is placed in the main room and facilitates team interaction within the historic timber shell.

Table: Key Features

Feature	Description	Architectural Role
Original Timber Skeleton	Retained structural frame	Anchors the design in history and place
Earth Plaster Surfaces	Walls finished with red clay from Ishikawa	Creates material warmth and texture
Washi Paper Screens	Layered sliding screens and ceiling elements	Offers flexibility and visual calm
Adaptable Layout	Meeting work and lounge zones interlinked	Supports modern hybrid work culture

Material and Craft

The surface treatments were intentionally designed to refer to Japanese tradition. Local craft is directly connected to earth-based plaster, and the layered washi paper renders a familiar texture to a new application. These material choices support the concept that architecture can be born of place and time, not only of style.

Context and Significance

The renovation demonstrates how office design can give priority to the aspects of sustainability, material integrity, and local craftsmanship instead of temporary trends. This project provides a model for architects and designers on how to reuse and reinterpret existing buildings, considering their material history and spatial potential.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The Tokyo workspace by Symbolplus not only preserves the traditional essence but also redefines it in a modern way. The architects, by retaining the timber structure and using earth plaster and washi paper as the main materials, created a space that is both rooted and modern. The project proves that design can be calming through the honesty and restraint of materials. Rather than dominating the old, Symbolplus lets history live in a practical modern office. It is a meditation on how little craftsmanship can reshape, in a fast-moving city, our understanding of workplace architecture.

Conclusion

The Symbolplus office in Tokyo encodes the slow and patient way of dealing with the architecture of the workplace. It reinforces the notion that design might highlight meticulous layering, truthful materials, and skilled work. The project in this way challenges the conventional thinking about an office, and it is no longer a mere workplace but a time, a place, and a method reflecting space.

The photography is by Keishin Horikoshi.

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