REVZO Toranomon was designed to minimize waste generation in the architecture
Sustainable architecture is often referred to as green architecture or environmental architecture. To achieve minimal negative impacts to the ecosystem and the communities, architects must produce smart designs and use available technologies. Norihisa KAWASHIMA, Principal at Nori Architects, Senior Assistant Professor at Meiji University, and his team of architects have minimized the amount of waste generated from the construction of a new mid-scale rental office series to achieve sustainability.
In June 2020, the REVZO prototype has been completed at Toranomon, Tokyo, as part of a planned series by a Japanese real estate company. Through improving the physical and mental well-being of its occupants, and fostering a creative atmosphere, this office aims to foster a delightful environment where one can connect with the ever-changing "nature" around them. The core configuration includes two wide openings, with the street-facing side allowing natural light to penetrate fully into the 17-meter deep tenant workspace. The floors have operable windows to facilitate natural ventilation. There is a balcony with a planting strip along the street-facing side of the building. The planting strips will be filled with cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, and color-changing seasonal plants, as well as edible plants such as blueberries, lemons, and herbs, creating a place where tenants can observe seasonal changes and harvest them as well. In addition to providing footholds for plants, stainless steel mesh along the side of the balcony protects residents and objects from falling. An outdoor escape staircase is located at the end of a balcony, which can serve as an extension of the balcony. On one side of the building, air conditioners are located, blowing horizontally into the room, eliminating the need for ductwork from the ceiling. This allows for a high ceiling while keeping the floor-to-ceiling height low. In addition to reducing waste generated during construction, semi-skeletonized finishes also provide for immediate occupancy and reduced environmental impact.
The entrance is covered in a variety of wild vegetation, including red pine and agave. The arrangement makes seasonal changes visible to visitors and office workers alike. Plants are arranged and displayed on earthen walls, mirrors, and displays depicting images of nature throughout the lobby area. Displays of furniture creations are also on display. Due to the natural lighting and well-ventilated stairs, and art and speakers on every floor, one would prefer to take the staircase instead of taking the elevator. A communal lounge with high ceilings, decorated with wood, earth, and vegetation, can be found on the top floor. Labels on furniture and accessories indicate where they come from, creating an environment that demonstrates the craftsmanship put into the furniture.
Designer Profile
Norihisa KAWASHIMA
Principal at Nori Architects, Senior Assistant Professor at Meiji University
Registered Architect, JAPAN, Dr. Eng.
Born in Kanagawa prefecture in 1982, Kawashima graduated from the University of Tokyo in 2005, earned his master’ s degree from the University of Tokyo Graduate School in 2007, after which he was hired by Nikken Sekkei. Kawashima became a visiting scholar at University of California, Berkeley and worked with Prof. Dana Buntrock and LOISOS + UBBELOHDE in 2012. In 2014, Kawashima became an assistant professor at the Department of Architecture of the Tokyo Institute of Technology and jointly established ARTENVARCH with Keika Sato. In 2016, Kawashima earned a doctor’s degree from the University of Tokyo Graduate School. In 2017, Kawashima established Nori Architects. In 2020, Kawashima became a senior assistant professor at Meiji University. Now Kawashima is a principal of Nori Architects and a principal of Regional Design Laboratory at Meiji University.
Representative works：Sony City Osaki [2011] , Diagonal Boxes [2016] , Yuji Yoshida Gallery / House [2017] , Saw-tooth Roofs in Ichinomiya[2017], and REVZO Toranomon[2020] .
Representative awards: The Prize of Architectural Institute of Japan [Architectural Design], 1st Prize [Prize from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport] in the 7th Sustainable Housing Award from IBEC, 1st Prize in JIA Sustainable Architecture Award 2020, and many others.
For more information, please visit: http://norihisakawashima.jp/
*The New Black is a new award from www.skydesignawards.com designed to discover and recognise young architects and designers, or small projects such as pop-up, residential, or retail shops project sizes up to 50m2 (540 ft²).
*The New Black entrants must be either under 38 years of age OR the project submitted must be less than 50m2 (with no age limitation).