SAKO architects: cube tube

‘cube tube’ by SAKO architects, jinhua, china image © misae hiromatsu all images courtesy of SAKO architects

within the economic development zone of jinhua, china, the ‘cube tube’ office and restaurant building by beijing and tokyo-based practice SAKO architects creates a landmark for the area. contrasting the style of the existing context, a fenestration pattern of varied squares surfaces the main cubic volume and adjacent linear block, generating their respective names, ‘cube’ and ‘tube’.

entry to the cube building image © misae hiromatsu

the nine storey’s of the square structure are intersected with a vertical succession of criss-crossed corridors which terminate as open-air terraces overlooking the landscape. the terminating ends of the pathways feature diversely sized and proportioned rectangles to additional variation. the X-shaped configuration introduces light and breezes into the internal core while allowing a divided working interior space with an airy atmosphere.

facade detail image © misae hiromatsu

as visitors enter the main lobby, they are welcomed with a continuation of the external appearance, as the motif has influenced and been applied to the ceilings, columns, walls and floor tiles. the exterior’s stainless steel curtain wall has been processed with a grinder for its matte reflection. a grid with hundreds of trees surround the site.

view of the interior through square window image © misae hiromatsu

lobby image © misae hiromatsu

ground level lobby image © misae hiromatsu

cubic fenestration pattern image © misae hiromatsu

view to the tree orchard image © misae hiromatsu

path to the tube restaurant image © misae hiromatsu

interior of the tube image © misae hiromatsu

view from upper level image © misae hiromatsu

open air terrace image © misae hiromatsu

interior at night image © misae hiromatsu

illuminated at dusk image © misae hiromatsu

rendering image © misae hiromatsu

site plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 2

section

section

diagram of criss-crossed corridors

project info:

project name: cube tube in jinhua project location: jinhua, china architects: keiichiro sako, yoko fujii / sako architects, jiye zhang / sako architects lighting design: masahide kakudate lighting architect & associates client: 8 yong zhejiang highway engineering co., ltd. element: office, restaurant site area: 13,421 sqm building area: 13,295 sqm structure and material: reinforced concrete construction, aluminum wall, glass curtain wall photography credit: misae hiromatsu