note architects’ workspace Connects with the Community
Office Nomura-Sanko, designed by Ryo Kamamatsu of Note Architects, is a workspace that brings people together. Located near a nostalgic shopping street in Tokyo, this locally based construction company wanted a space that felt open and welcoming to the community. A unique 910-millimeter-wide Hangen space, a Japanese module, centers the design, reimagined into a flexible Hangen tangent. This adaptable space creates different experiences—an engawa-like veranda, a traditional feature that serves as a transition between indoors and outdoors, a skylit workspace, and a Hangen garden—all reinforcing a link between the office and the city.
From the outside, the silver Galvalume steel exterior helps the building blend into its residential surroundings. The most visible corner of the site is transformed into a gallery space, showcasing the work of the company and inviting the community to engage with it.
all images courtesy of Note Architects
Office Nomura-Sanko Adapts to Its Surroundings in tokyo
While analyzing the building, the Japanese team of Note Architects discovered existing 910-millimeter-wide gaps, once used for hallways and closets. Instead of seeing them as limitations, they turned these spaces into opportunities. The Hangen tangent acts as a buffer between the inside and outside. Facing the street, it becomes an Engawa, inviting passersby to pause and engage. Inside, it transitions into a casual area for meetings or breaks, creating an open, airy feel within a dense urban setting.
Polycarbonate skylights bring in soft, natural light while maintaining privacy, allowing employees to focus without feeling closed off. The open-riser staircase enhances the sense of openness, offering views of the city below and the sky above. Large windows create visual connections to the outside world, making the workspace feel more expansive and dynamic.
Office Nomura-Sanko incorporates elements of traditional Japanese design to make Office Nomura-Sanko feel warm and inviting. A reused wooden sliding door acts as a flexible partition—easily opening to welcome guests or closing for private conversations. The Hangen garden, created by removing an extended part of the building, brings nature into the workspace. Meanwhile, the half-room facing the street functions like an Engawa, offering a cozy, informal place to rest—similar to how an elderly neighbor might sit and relax after a walk.
the stairs and veranda-like space provide an appropriate distance from the city
the most prominent corner of the site will be used as a gallery space to showcase the company’s achievements
the workspace has few windows, allowing for concentration
this adaptable space creates different experiences
employees can take a break in the back room
the polycarbonate skylight casts a soft light
this adaptable space creates different experiences
from the staircase, you can see outside to the front and to the first floor
the Hangen garden is created by removing an extended part of the building
project info:
name: Office Nomura-sanko
architect: Note Architects | @notearchitects
location: Tokyo, Japan
lead designer: Ryo Kamamatsu
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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom
