RINNAI AOYAMA

A brand experience facility planned for Rinnai, a company that provides heat-energy appliances such as gas stoves, water heaters, and heating systems. Beyond showcasing products, the space was envisioned as a “living hub” where end users, designers, and architects could not only experience the brand but also gather and connect through the environment itself.

The project occupies the first and fourth floors of a building in Tokyo’s Minami-Aoyama, distinguished by a façade of light green mosaic tiles. One challenge of the existing site was that, despite its corner location, the placement of windows and entrances made it difficult to draw attention from the street into the interior. At the same time, the first floor offered sufficient area to accommodate the key programmatic needs: a multipurpose event space, a café and work tables for visitors, and display functions for showcasing products. In response, the centerpiece of the design became a large triangular inner terrace at the ground-floor entrance. One side of the triangle is defined by a glass partition angled diagonally to the façade, while the other two sides are composed of large fixed windows and sliding doors that can be opened. This inner terrace not only draws sight-lines inward but also creates a generous threshold space that welcomes visitors.

In contrast to the public role of the first floor, the fourth floor—with its own terrace—was designed as a domestic-style setting where products can be experienced in a residential context. While the first floor employs a palette of whites and grays with hard materials such as terrazzo tiles, ceramic stone, and stainless steel, the fourth floor introduces plaster finishes and brown-toned wood, adding warmth and a sense of calm. By varying the tone of each floor yet unifying the overall design with Rinnai’s brand image of strength and reliability, the facility seeks to embody both solidity and comfort within a dignified atmosphere.