organic design architecture studio uses steel bars to divide free office space in tokyo

organic design architecture studio has taken up one corner of the vacant first floor of a 33-year-old rental office building in tokyo to create rebar, a 150 sqm free space to be used for lectures, discussions and meetings between co-workers. the project takes its name from the material that encloses the space, reinforcing bar (rebar), which are the steel bars or mesh typically used to strengthen reinforced concrete. though usually not visible on the surface, the material here takes center stage, serving both a functional and design purpose.all images by y. okamura

commissioned to create a space that would bring new life and new tenants to the vacant  floor of the 33-year-old building, organic design architecture studio has responded by designing this free space with the aim of positively impacting the everyday lives of the office workers on the rest of the floor. the choice of material serves a functional purpose, since the building has central air conditioning and it was necessary to maintain airflow throughout, and a design purpose, which is to create a ‘transparent’ atmosphere that connects the various parts of the space into a whole.

against a calming blue background, the translucent white steel bars compose a deformed inorganic structure that serves as an interactive partition across which the lively intellectual discussions taking place inside can pass. ‘the functional role of the rebar is to allow the energy generated by people lecturing and engaging in discussions in the free space to overflow the translucent steel mesh walls through which people can be both seen and heard,’ explains organic design architecture studio. ‘our hope is that this inspires and positively impacts the office workers on the rest of the floor. the mesh walls also let air and light pass through unobstructed.’

project info:

name: rebar

architect: organic design architecture studio

client: re-sohko inc.

location: 3-5-13, kaigan, minato ku, tokyo to, 108-0022, japan

principal use: office

total floor area: 150 sqm