photo ©  Chikao Todoraki / Sasaki Studio Inc

Project Name: FlatFlat
Project Location: Tokyo, Japan
Project Type: Showroom Interior
Architects: SAKO Architects
Building area: 328sqm
Design Period: 2008/06-2008/07
Construction Period: 2008/07-2008/08

photo ©  Chikao Todoraki / Sasaki Studio Inc

Where Organic Meets Inorganic
text by Katerina Tasheva for deZona
FlatFlat by SAKO Architects in Harajuku is the store where the visitors are actually able to experience Hangame, an online games portal, and Hange.jp, a games portal for mobile phones, developed by NHN Japan Corporation. The store is located at the center of Harajuku, a part of Tokyo, known internationally for its youth style and fashion. It occupies a narrow space of 3.5 meters wide by 45 meters long with complicated plan and structure as the result of repeated reconstruction.

photo ©  Chikao Todoraki / Sasaki Studio Inc

text by SAKO Architects :
The concept of the store is the future park and we attempted to combine virtual element with real space opens to anyone. It is not only the space where organic principle and inorganic principle stay together, but it represents the modern society consists of real and virtual environments.
Organic principle consists of curved lines has a space characteristic of a cave which is the various space that people can discover own place to stay depending on each purpose and feeling while the different scenes unfolds continually. We attempted to create a space that people feel like snuggling up to the organic form that curves based on human body dimensions. Visitors do not hesitate to enter the store because of the sense of closeness. On the other hand, Inorganic principle consists of white wall surface fixtures, neon tubes of ceiling illumination and mortar floor creates virtual character. We used the lines, which let neon tubes, and the prevention of crack seam of mortar offset the forms of the wall surface fixtures. They stimulate curiosity of the visitors by synergy with the forms of the fixtures and lead them to the inner part of the narrow space.

photo ©  Chikao Todoraki / Sasaki Studio Inc

photo ©  Chikao Todoraki / Sasaki Studio Inc

photo ©  Chikao Todoraki / Sasaki Studio Inc