Designed for a French–Japanese family who regularly hosts friends and relatives, this house is conceived as a flexible living environment within a limited footprint. Time is treated as a design material.
Residence @ Itabashi, Tokyo Design: Romane Kunugiza, Shota Kaneko, HoLing Cheng /SNARK Inc. Construction: Koushou Inc. Steel products: gambit Total area: 70㎡ Completion: Jan. 2026 Photo: Ippei Shinzawa
Located near Toritsu-daigaku Station in Meguro, Tokyo, this restaurant offers a selection of homestyle cooking paired with natural wine. While preserving the raw character of the former tenant’s interior, the renovation introduces bespoke counters tailored to the respective roles of the husband-and-wife owners. The kitchen-side counter repurposes the existing structure as its base, whereas the bar counter was newly fabricated from the ground up; both are unified with light blue terrazzo tile tops. A yellow glass shelf is positioned directly across from the entrance, serving as a vibrant focal point to welcome guests. By accenting the original textures and vintage furniture with light blue terrazzo and custom yellow elements, the design captures the cheerful and warm dining experience hosted by the couple.
Restaurant @ Toritsu-daigaku, Tokyo Design: Yu Yamada, Suzu Shimabukuro /SNARK Inc. Construction: Double Box Steel products: gambit Total area: 30.6㎡ Completion: Jul. 2025 Photo: Ippei Shinzawa
Set within a lush, green environment, this office relocation project leverages expansive windows to integrate natural light into the workspace. The design facilitates a flexible environment where staff can choose their setting based on the day’s tasks or their personal mindset. While the main work areas utilize a beige-based palette to harmonize with existing furniture and foster a sense of calm, the meeting and open spaces transition to gray tones, creating a focused atmosphere with a productive sense of clarity. The strategic placement of the company’s art collection further enhances the interior, adding visual depth and clear sightlines throughout. By meticulously balancing material textures and lighting, the office achieves a cohesive, natural environment that feels both professional and inviting.
Office @ Kamiōsaki, Tokyo Design: Yu Yamada, Mako Shimanuki, HoLing Cheng /SNARK Inc. Construction: Koushou Inc. Total area: 395.45㎡ Completion: Jul. 2025 Photo: Ippei Shinzawa
This is an office relocation project for CHERRY Inc., a company engaged in addressing social issues through a wide range of creative planning and production, primarily in the advertising field. In the entrance hall, a custom-made counter made of Bealstone infused with the company’s signature logo color glass serves as a multifunctional space—for meetings, workshops, and as a community hub for both internal and external creatives. On the second floor, custom-built desks with integrated partitions were installed to help each individual stay focused. The overall layout encourages circulation, creating a compact yet well-balanced sense of distance between individuals and teams. The space is also designed to display CHERRY’s diverse collection of artworks—accumulated since the company’s founding—throughout the office.
Office @ Harajuku, Tokyo Design: Mami Umayahara /SNARK Inc. Project management, Design direction: Sunao Koase/SNARK Inc. Steel products: gambit Client: CHERRY inc. Construction: Total Project Total area: 103.41㎡ (1F49.5/㎡ 2F/53.91㎡) Completion: Nov. 2024 Photo: Ippei Shinzawa
This project is a renovation of an apartment unit in a verdant housing complex in Hikarigaoka, Tokyo. Designed for a family of three, the home incorporates a variety of functional zones, including a study for work and a small bookshelf nook in the living room for casual tasks. Lauan plywood is used as the finishing material throughout the space. In the living room, subtle variations—like shifting the wood grain orientation and adjusting the tone of the oil finish—lend each area its own character while preserving a sense of overall harmony. By applying the same material in different ways, the design creates a rich and varied living environment that reflects the nuances of everyday life.
Residence @ Hikarigaoka, Tokyo Design: Yu Yamada, Mami Umayahara /SNARK Inc. Construction: KOUSHOU Steel products: gambit Total area: 85.22㎡ Completion: Nov. 2024 Photo: Ippei Shinzawa
This is a two-family house located in a residential neighborhood of Itabashi, Tokyo, with the parents living on the first floor and the children’s family on the second. The first floor is designed for simplicity and ease of movement, centering around the bedroom and wet areas, with windows facing a neighboring pathway that bring in a sense of the changing seasons. On the second floor, the layout is divided lengthwise into private rooms and the living-dining-kitchen area. The high ceiling allows for lofts above the private rooms, used to store books and hobby items. At the landing of the staircase connecting the two households, a small study has been placed to provide a quiet and focused workspace, set apart from the other rooms. By structuring the house vertically, the design makes the most of the limited space while aiming to create a home that balances daily life with the belongings and activities of its residents.
Residence @ Itabashi, Tokyo Design: Sunao Koase, (Ayaka Seki) /SNARK Inc. Structural design: Shusaku Ota /Paterson Inc. Construction: Eishin Construction Total area: 94.38㎡ (1F/47.34㎡ 2F/47.04㎡ loft/21.73㎡ balcony/7.92㎡) Completion: Nov. 2024 Photo: Yasuyuki Takaki
This is an office relocation project for Katariba, a certified nonprofit organization committed to creating a society where all young people—regardless of their upbringing—can nurture the creativity and motivation to shape their own futures. In a post-pandemic work environment, with around 80% of staff working remotely, the project was developed in close collaboration with the client to explore the purpose and value of gathering in a shared space. In response to the client’s desire to “create spaces that foster dialogue,” the design centers on the concept of the engawa—a traditional Japanese architectural element that blurs the boundary between inside and outside. Engawa-like features were incorporated on each floor to encourage casual, spontaneous interaction, such as placing benches face-to-face or installing high counters along circulation paths. The overall space is unified in soft gray tones, accented by “Katariba Green,” the organization’s signature color, to create a warm and approachable atmosphere. Signage was designed by YOHAK DESIGN STUDIO, and sound design was handled by Sound Couture Inc., resulting in a spatial experience that engages both sight and sound. The conversations and connections that emerge here will continue to deepen the value of the space over time.
Office @ Nakano, Tokyo Design: Sunao Koase, (Ayaka Seki) /SNARK Inc. Client: Katariba Sign design, Color direction: Taku Sasaki, Yua Houzaki, Leo Arimoto /YOHAK DESIGN STUDIO Steel products: gambit Construction: Total Project Sound design: Sound Couture Inc. Acoustic design: Fly Sound Inc. Total area: 485.3㎡ Completion: Oct. 2024 Photo: Ippei Shinzawa
This is an office relocation project for Khaki Co., Ltd., a VFX direction and design company. In addition to an office and meeting room, a preview room was required to check the produced images. The conference room and preview room, which frequently receive visitors from the outside, were placed in an entrance area separated from the office to ensure security of the office. The office area is large enough to accommodate future increases in staff, and includes a lounge for employees. The lounge will be used not only for breaks but also for dinner parties, so we designed sofas and side tables that can be reconfigured to suit the needs of the client.
Office @ Toranomon, Tokyo Design: Sunao Koase, Shota Kaneko, Mami Umayahara, Romane Kunugiza /SNARK Inc. Client: Khaki Construction: Total Project Total area: 394.24㎡ Completion: Oct. 2024 Photo: Ippei Shinzawa
This is a renovation project of a room in a vintage condominium in Yoyogi, Tokyo. The original room was divided by partitions and large beams, giving the space a claustrophobic feel. In the renovation, we eliminated the partitions and installed a curved bench and kitchen counter that straddle the room, creating a sense of openness in the living and dining areas.The bench top and countertop design are common, and both use unglazed tiles to emphasize the sense of unity between the living and dining rooms. At the back of the living room, a space with a raised floor that can also be used as a bedroom was created, with a low bench and comfortable carpet for relaxing on the floor.
Residence @ Yoyogi, Tokyo Design: Sunao Koase, Shota Kaneko /SNARK Inc. Client: SHARE COMPANY Construction: Repos-design Total area: 118.30㎡ Completion: Oct. 2024 Photo: Ippei Shinzawa
This is an office relocation project for Commons Asset Management, an investment management company. The new location is on the top floor of a high-rise building overlooking the natural beauty of Meiji Jingu Gaien, and the office was planned based on the keyword “Nature” through dialogues with the client. In addition to office space and meeting rooms, a lounge space for workshops and lectures and book storage space was required. The space was partitioned with fixed bookshelves and movable furniture to accommodate a variety of layouts. By using the keyword as a clue to determine materials and details, we hope that each part of the office space will have a common context and become a new “common ground,” which is the origin of the company name, as people gather there.
Office @ Aoyama, Tokyo Design: Rei Oshima, Shota Kaneko /SNARK Inc. Client: Commons Asset Management,Inc． Project management & Design direction: Momoko Masuda, Yusuke Kurii /TRAIL HEADS Construction: SPD meiji Total area: 347.92m² Completion: May. 2024 Photo: Tomooki Kengaku
This project is the renovation of a unit in a high-rise apartment building in central Tokyo. The client’s request was to take full advantage of the panoramic views from the upper floors and to maximize natural light throughout the space. To achieve this, the layout was reconfigured as a spacious open-plan room without partition walls. The wet areas were relocated closer to the entrance, allowing for the open layout, while also allowing for a future conversion to a three-bedroom layout—offering flexibility with potential resale in mind. Curved shelving was introduced to gently define zones within the space, striking a balance between openness and a sense of comfort. The flooring was laid on a diagonal to draw the eye toward the large living room windows, enhancing the sense of spaciousness. Exposed concrete columns and beams add a strong architectural presence, and where they intersect with soft curves in the ceiling and wainscoting, a dynamic contrast between strength and softness emerges. For the finishes, subtly textured materials such as Jolypate, Mortex, and stone were selected to create visual depth and to highlight the unique character of each surface. A neutral color palette was maintained to complement the client’s collection of art and furniture, ensuring a cohesive atmosphere throughout the space.
Residence @ Roppongi, Tokyo Design: Rei Oshima, Shota Kaneko /SNARK Inc. Project management & Design direction: Masayuki Sakurai, Yusuke Kurii /TRAIL HEADS Construction: BEANS Total area: 155.84㎡ Completion: Dec. 2023 Photo: Tomooki Kengaku
Upon entering the bar, guests are enveloped in a soft, glowing interior, with ambient lighting and artwork that evoke the feeling of floating in outer space, reminiscent of a science fiction movie set. The main area is open to all, featuring furniture and artwork created by NANZUKA’s represented artists. The counter, chairs, and tables are designed by Tetsuya Nakamura, while a large piece by Hajime Sorayama takes center stage. The floors, walls, and ceilings are all clad in metal panels, which diffuse light and reflect the video art displayed behind the bar, creating a captivating, otherworldly atmosphere. Beyond a hidden door lies the VIP area, which offers a completely different ambiance. This intimate space features sculptural countertops and speakers carved from a single log by artist Ryuichi Ohira. The ceiling is adorned with light gray wood panels, subtly downplaying the grain to create a serene backdrop. The plastered wall behind the counter is gently curved, framing the video art while adding a tactile, sculptural element to the room. To enhance the visitor experience, thoughtful design details have been incorporated throughout. A peephole with a fisheye lens allows passersby to peek into the bar, while an internally illuminated sign doubles as a door pull, creating a seamless interaction between space and function. This project, completed in collaboration with several artists, has resulted in a truly immersive environment that invites exploration and engagement with both art and design.NANZUKA is an art gallery that has garnered attention, not only in Tokyo but globally, for its experimental projects that bridge the gap between pop culture and contemporary art. As part of its ongoing innovation, NANZUKA has created TAKEN, a bar located within a commercial building in Tokyo, where visitors can experience art alongside their drinks.
Bar & Gallery @ Shibuya, Tokyo Art Direction: NANZUKA Design: Yu Yamada, Ayaka Seki /SNARK Inc. Construction: butter Inc. Furniture, Counter (main bar): Tetsuya Nakamura Counter, Speaker (VIP bar): Ryuichi Ohira Speaker (main bar): listude Steel products: gambit Neon sign: TAKASHO DIGITEC Co,Ltd Total Area: 69.63㎡ Completion: Jul. 2024 Photo: Ippei Shinzawa
