COMMUNITY HUB ‘MACHIAI’

Located on a large area of land on in the Aoyama area in Tokyo, “NONOAOYAMA” is a complex of 3500 square meters including a spacious green space, residential units for rent, housing for the elderly, stores, restaurants, and a daycare center. We were approached to plan a space designed for community interaction within “NONOAOYAMA”. With this project site with a little less than 100 sqm located on the first floor of the complex, we were required create a space to be used for multi-purposes such as a public gallery, a space to host lectures and events, and a home to conduct area management activities. A large staircase, which serves as an approach to the second floor of the complex, was hanging on the top of the L-shaped plot, which resulted in a partly sloped ceiling in the interior.  Thus, we decided to design the interior with a gently curved ceiling. This allowed us to clear the problem of the sloping while maintaining the ceiling height, as well as to create a generous and soft environment that fit the spirit of “NONOAOYAMA”, which is based on the concept of ” becoming a place to be surrounded by the preciousness of nature and to realize its gratitude”. In addition, by adopting a large curved wall we created a plan that invites people into the back of the room without dividing the two sections. The materials used were gloss finished teak wood along with a light gray-beige paint to create a simple yet elegant impression. Because the space is a place where people from various generations interact with each other, we were careful to keep the atmosphere calm, open and airy. We are hoping that this space will continue to be an active place for diverse exchanges in the community.