House in Shibukawa

A vertical void makes relationshipsA wooden 2-story house for a family built in the downtown area of Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, which has also a hair salon that runs by the owner. Parking lots are set to the front road and the opposite side of the house is used as a private garden.
While the hair salon is opening whole other rooms should be silent. This family has 2 children though they might make some noise after school or Sunday afternoon. The vertical void is sandwiched between the hair salon and their activity rooms and the vertical void solves to sound and vibration problem in a wooden structure especially. Of course it is better ventilation and getting sun light, part of circulation.expose/envelopeThe wooden structure is built to support a divided 2 volumes. But in the interior, the structure is not thought of as a structural frame which is thought of as a finishing material. This means that the interior is designed by partially exposing or enveloping of the structural frame.
The hair salon and living room are trapezoidal as floor shape. In this case, if the beams are arranged at equidistant, the beam height will increase according to the lengths. Utilizing this, we envelop the beams, which became larger due to the longer span on the second floor to put the equipment inside it. And partially expose the beams to keep the ceiling height of the hair salon.
On the other hand, in order to unify the beam height of the roof, the distance between the beams is adjusted. As a result, roof beams created a sense of depth in the living room interesting in perspective view.
The idea of “expose/envelop” is also related to design the doors, door handles, benches, counters, etc. By exposing or enveloping partially, the structure frame is weakened as physically, and showing it more materially. Thereby we could handle a structural frame as an element of the interior, such as furniture. We are designing architecture by thinking in terms of “structural frame or interior element”, means not what Structural frame becomes interior element as straightforward.A wooden 2-story house for a family built in the downtown area of Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, which has also a hair salon that runs by the owner. Parking lots are set to the front road and the opposite side of the house is used as a private garden.
While the hair salon is opening whole other rooms should be silent. This family has 2 children though they might make some noise after school or Sunday afternoon. The vertical void is sandwiched between the hair salon and their activity rooms and the vertical void solves to sound and vibration problem in a wooden structure especially. Of course it is better ventilation and getting sun light, part of circulation.expose/envelope
Residence + hairsalone @ Shibukawa Gunma
Architect: Yu Yamada, Tomohiro Okada /SNARK Inc.+ Shin Yokoo, Kakeru Tsuruta /OUVI
Construction: Shibusawa Techno Construction
Total area: 130.01㎡ ( 1F/64.17㎡ [ salon:48.17㎡ ] 2F/65.83㎡ )
Completion: Jun.2018
Photo: Ippei Shinzawa

NIGIRO

Located within LALA PARK SUEHIRO, a newly developed multi-purpose complex in central Takasaki, this rice ball (onigiri) shop was designed around the concept of made-to-order preparation, with each onigiri freshly hand-shaped upon request. An open kitchen layout allows all operations—from cooking and serving to clearing and payment—to be carried out seamlessly within the counter area. The height and placement of each element were carefully calibrated to ensure smooth workflow and efficiency. To maintain a clean, welcoming atmosphere, kitchen equipment is kept out of view from the eat-in area, with custom fixtures such as a display cover and cashier counter thoughtfully integrated into the space. The interior combines the casual feel of a coffee stand with a gentle touch of traditional Japanese sensibilities, using warm materials and ceiling finishes to create a harmonious, inviting environment.
Onigiri shop @ Takasaki, Gunma
Design: Koase Sunao, Takeo Arika /SNARK Inc.
Construction: Numaga Construction
Bracket lighting, Showcase cover: kirika
Wall decor items: Nandakatotemo
Logo design: ALNICO DESIGN
Total area: 19.86㎡
Completion: Sep. 2024
Photo: Ippei Shinzawa

ARTERIOR

This is a relocation project for a furniture store dealing with Scandinavian and domestic furniture, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025. The name of the store, “ARTERIOR,” is a coined word combining the words ‘ART’ and ‘INTERIOR,’ meaning that the store does not deal in furniture simply as objects, but rather in interiors that can create beautiful spaces. The store before the relocation had a distinctive exterior and staircase, and had long been loved by both customers and staff. In honor of this history, we focused our design on the exterior, the staircase, and the reception counter as a place to interact with customers. The showroom area was kept simple to showcase the furniture on display, while the main counter and staircase were designed with a sense of dignity using Mortex and Bealstone. We partitioned the space so that the visitor cannot see the entire space from the entrance, in order to draw their attention and invite them to the back of the store. We designed the space from the customer’s perspective so that they could imagine their own lives as they experience the furniture.
Furniture shop @ Takasaki, Gunma
Design: Rei Oshima, Noriko Koba /SNARK Inc.
Client: Nishida Inc.
Construction: Nishida Inc.
Total area: 713.28㎡ (1F/396.24㎡ 2F/317.04㎡)
Completion: Apr. 2024
Photo: Ippei Shinzawa

Lotus

This clothes shop in downtown Takasaki was relocated to a building just a few minutes’ walk from the original shop due to building reconstruction. While retaining the atmosphere of the previous shop, we added new features to the space. A newly introduced vintage cabinet, which is used as a checkout counter, was made the main feature of the space. In order to enhance its charm, other furniture was created using the bare surface of lauan plywood. The texture of the lauan plywood will blend with the vintage cabinet over time, deepening the overall atmosphere of the store. We aimed to create a space that respects the past and spins new values.
Clothes shop @ Takasaki, Gunma
Design: Sunao Koase /SNARK Inc.
Construction: Tsunoda Construction, beichimo
Total area: 37.80㎡
Completion: Apr. 2024
Photo: Ippei Shinzawa

Sanjo Bussan

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

Estmma Plus

Multipurpose room @ Shinjuku, Tokyo
Design: Yu Yamada, Mami Umayahara, Haruka Suzuki /SNARK Inc.
Construction: MEIWA
Steel products: gambit
Total area: 81.67㎡
Completion: Aug. 2024
Photo: Ippei Shinzawa

House in Kawagoe

This project is a newly built residence with a hair salon on the ground floor, located in a rural area surrounded by expansive rice fields and a rich natural landscape. The site sits adjacent to the client’s family farmhouse—set among barns, storage sheds, and paddies—and was created by partially converting one of those paddies into residential land. The design of the house responds to the main house and the surrounding agricultural scenery, aiming to integrate gently into its context. Initially, the plan was to place the building toward the northern edge of the site to allow for a large south-facing garden, maximizing sunlight while taking into account that the adjacent southern lots are being developed as residential land. However, through a series of site studies conducted with the client, who is a landscape architect, the final layout was shifted to harmonize with the spatial sequence formed by the main house, the rice fields to the north, the planned garden, and the new residence. A large gabled roof opens toward the rice fields, with generous windows oriented to bring the view deep into both the living space and the salon, while still ensuring ample daylight. Inside, the salon is positioned along the street-facing side, unified under the same roof as the home. To separate the two functions in daily life, the design incorporates elements such as a double-height space and adjacent wet areas to buffer sound, allowing the salon to operate independently from the living quarters. The interior finishes are also carefully considered, with contrasting yet complementary tones and textures that create a sense of distinction between work and private life while maintaining overall coherence. The building is surrounded by new planting that blends with the existing rural landscape, allowing each space within the home to remain connected to nature. This integration not only offers a changing seasonal experience but also a sense of lasting familiarity—one that gently supports the comfort and well-being of those who live there.
Residence @ Kawagoe, Saitama
Design: Rei Oshima, Mako Shimanuki /SNARK Inc.
Construction: BEACON WORKS
Total area: 125.24㎡ (1F/82.61㎡ 2F/42.63㎡)
Completion: Feb. 2024
Photo: Makoto Yoshida

vantner

Camper van rental shop @ Mitaka, Tokyo
Design: Rei Oshima, Ayaka Seki /SNARK Inc.
Client: Apollo Link Co.,Ltd.
Project management, Design direction: Momoko Masuda, Yusuke Kurii /TRAIL HEADS
Construction: Total Project
Floor area: 23.37㎡
Completion: Mar. 2024
Photo: Daisuke Shima

SPICE american bake shop

A sister store of “Ju the burger” in Gunma, Japan, this store offers pastries inspired by rustic baked goods eaten in American homes. The layout is centered around a counter where dozens of varieties of baked goods are lined up daily. A glass window between the store and the kitchen gives sense of depth to the small store. Terracotta tiles and wood were used for the interior to harmonize with the materials and colors of the baked goods. The facade and interior were designed with a basic white color scheme so that the store color, orange, would stand out.
Baked confectionery shop @ Kiryu, Gunma
Design: Rei Oshima, Ayaka Seki /SNARK Inc.
Client: NC
Construction: MK Construction
Steel products: gambit
Floor area: 52.00㎡
Completion: Apr. 2024
Photo: Ippei Shinzawa

Don’t tell anyone

Residence @ Isesaki, Gunma
Design: Sunao Koase, Noriko Koba /SNARK Inc.
Construction: Miyashita Construction
Shop furniture: QUIET SPACE TOOL & FURNITURE, サカタカズヤ
Exterior design: Enomoto Kaoru /Tan
Total area: 108.47㎡ (1F/79.49㎡ 2F/28.98㎡)
Completion: Dec. 2023
Photo: Ippei Shinzawa

KO52 TAKAO

Shopping complex @ Takao, Tokyo
Basic design: Rei Oshima, Sunao Koase, Yu Yamada, Mami Umayahara /SNARK Inc.
Client: Keio Corporation
Planning: Our Company Inc.
Design & Construction: Keio Construction
Furniture design: WALDEN
Floor area: 954.47㎡
Completion: Apr. 2024
Photo: Nacasa & Partners

OMAMA BIBLIOTHEQUE

Baked confectionery shop @ Midori, Gunma
Design: Rei Oshima, Takeo Arika /SNARK Inc.
Client: Miraibake LLC
Construction: Numaga Construction
Steel Product: gambit
Floor area: 79.50㎡
Completion: Aug. 2023
Photo: Ippei Shinzawa