Located in Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture, this gallery is a showcase of traditional skills from the Tsubame and Sanjo area of Niigata Prefecture, known as one of Japan’s leading manufacturing towns. The gallery is also used as a departure and arrival point for craft manufacturing tours offered by the client, such as a hands-on experience of making kitchen knives and iron frying pans while learning directly from craftspeople, and a cycle tour of the factories and townscape by e-bike. Part of an 85-year-old storehouse that was once used as a distribution warehouse for tabi (split-toed socks) and designated as a cultural asset by the city was renovated as an exhibition space. The display stand is composed entirely of wooden boxes and scaffolding boards left in the warehouse, expressing the historical linkage behind the technology. The entire building, which is over 900 square meters in size, is planned to become a complex facility with lodging to convey the inheritance of Tsubame and Sanjo’s technology in the future.
Gallery @ Sanjo, Niigata Client: KRaft Inc. Design: Yu Yamada /SNARK Inc. Construction: Chuo Tochi Inc. + echiwoarchi Direction: Sayaka Sakai Total area: 79.32m² Completion: Nov. 2024 Photo: Hajime Morishita
This DIY truck is one of CAINZ’s new projects to promote their “creating” culture throughout Japan. We designed the truck to fit the tables, chairs, and tools that are necessary for their workshops. All parts were made using CAINZ’s products, and shopbot was used to cut the wood. We made the furniture and tools simple so that a single woman could set up the workshop. By making each item small, it is easy to carry and can be set up in a variety of ways. The truck is filled with the fun of DIY, and is a perfect vehicle for conveying the “creating” culture of CAINZ to children.
Client: CAINZ CORPORATION Design: Sunao Koase,Takeo Arika /SNARK Inc. Construction: CAINZ D.I.Y. Illustration:Yoshiki Terasawa Photo:CRAFTIS MEDIA
Situated within the historic Yamana Hachiman-gu Shrine in Takasaki, Gunma, this Nou-ryou (summer cooling) structure was conceived as a serene spot where visitors can enjoy shaved ice while listening to the delicate sounds of wind chimes. It features a modular knockdown system, meticulously designed for easy assembly and disassembly, with each component sized for portability by a single individual. Utilizing standard materials sourced from local hardware stores, the structure was entirely handcrafted, including all precision cutting and joinery. While originally intended as a seasonal summer installation, its versatility has allowed it to evolve into a year-round fixture. It now serves as a mobile temporary sanctuary, relocated to various sites throughout the shrine grounds to support different spiritual and communal needs across all seasons.
This bespoke piece, featuring an integrated turntable, was created for an exhibition centered on the theme of a shrine where sound is worshipped as a deity. While initially conceived as a DJ booth, we integrated the form and function of a saisen-bako (offertory box) into its design to align with the project’s spiritual concept. Developed in close collaboration with a master craftsman, the unit achieves an exceptional level of precision and refined detailing, resulting in a presence reminiscent of high-end audio equipment. The final result is an art piece that seamlessly bridges conceptual depth with masterful quality, standing as a testament to the harmony between form and function.
A display fixture created for the 40th anniversary of the Takasaki Montres station building. It showcases 121 unique Takasaki Daruma dolls, each representing a shop within the complex. Wooden dowels inserted into perforated boards create the illusion of the dolls floating when viewed from the front. This modular, reconfigurable system allows the fixture to be easily repurposed for various shop displays following the initial promotion.
We created acrylic partitions to prevent droplet infection using scrap materials from an ironworks with which we have collaborated in many projects. We visited the ironworks directly and selected materials from what was available, and decided shapes. The color of the steel was also selected from surplus paint, resulting in a unique products.
Design: Sunao Koase /SNARK Inc. Steel parts: gambit Photo: Lo.cul.p
We designed a display shelf for 13 COFFEE ROASTERS’ pop-up store. Considering that they will open a pop-up store in various locations in the future, the shelf was designed to fit into a roll pallet so that it can be easily carried in and out. The shelf, which was made of steel frame and polyester faced plywood, has the same aspect ratio as the package size of SCENE BLEND, a new product of 13 COFFEE ROASTERS. The shelf will continue to be used in different combinations according to the location of the store.
Pop-up store @Takasaki, Gunma Design: Sunao Koase, Noriko Koba, Ayaka Seki /SNARK Inc. Client: 13 COFFEE ROASTERS Steel parts: gambit Set up: SNARK D.I.Y. Completion: Mar.2021 Photo: Lo.cul.p
To celebrate our 11th anniversary, we curated an installation representing an ideal living space. The exhibition features a collection of original products designed by our staff, alongside works by the clients, builders, and creators who have collaborated with SNARK throughout our journey.
Events @SNARK Takasaki Design : SNARK Inc. steel : gambit mortex : Roccadia design and works Completion : Dec.2019 Photo : Miwa Tsuchiya
An interior design project for hair salon styling stations. We designed a large three-meter table intersected by partitions, integrating a space-dividing function into the dresser units. This layout allows salon users to maintain a comfortable sense of distance from one another even within the limited space.
Hair salon @ Takasaki Gunma Design: Ryota Yamagishi /SNARK Inc. Furniture: Roccadia design and works , gambit Electric construction: Shimazu denki shokai Total area: 46.16㎡ Completion: Sep. 2019 Photo: Tomohiro Okada
The fixtures are designed for knockdown assembly and customization, providing the flexibility to adapt seamlessly to evolving scales and business models.
Office @ Shinjuku, Tokyo Interior design: Yu Yamada /SNARK Inc. Client: HAUS Inc. Construction: DoubleBox Furniture： gambit, Rice products Floor area: 59.15㎡ Completion: Aug.2018 Photo: Takehiro Goto
