TORAFU architects' japan creation center is a collaborative 'outside in' space for designers

TORAFU architects reveals the Arc’teryx headquarters in Japan

TORAFU architects unveils the Tokyo Creation Center, the headquarters for the outdoor equipment company Arc’teryx. Apart from the brand’s headquarters, this multi-layer renovated reinforced concrete building, serves as a hub for Japanese and international designers to collaborate on product design, development, and prototyping alongside athletes. The ‘Outside In’ design concept fosters a connection between interior and exterior spaces. The facility, featuring one basement and two aboveground floors, includes a first-floor sewing and work area for prototypes, a second-floor office for designers, a basement multi-purpose community space, a fabric cutting workshop, a warehouse, and a rooftop gathering space with scenic views. 

all images by Tomooki Kengaku, courtesy of TORAFU architects

Tokyo Creation Center reflects the city’s culture and aesthetics

Visitors enter through an automatic door made of slanted, indigo-dyed boards that form Arc’teryx initial. Inside, TORAFU architects covers the atrium-facing wall with cypress display shelves, showcasing the brand’s archives and reflecting Japanese and Tokyo culture, craftsmanship, and aesthetics. The production area, centered around sewing machines, features a circular layout with fan-shaped cutting tables and a sound-absorbing cypress-louvered ceiling. The architecture and design duo placed an office with a courtyard view adjacent to this space, reminiscent of Japanese mountain scenery. The second-floor office space, designed for global designers, includes large cutting tables near desks, facilitating the transition between individual and collaborative work. Display shelves from the first floor and a consistent louvered ceiling emphasize unity between levels.

this renovated reinforced concrete building serves as a hub for designers

the facility’s interior showcases mountain-themed artworks

The basement event space opens fully via three sliding doors, accommodating both indoor and outdoor events. The workshop, partitioned by glass walls, is backed by organized materials and tools. A light curtain ceiling enhances work efficiency and creates a gallery-like effect, extending through the stairwell to connect the basement and first floor. The rooftop, accessed by an exterior staircase, features two levels of relaxing terraces. A bench crafted from 12 preserved Yanasesugi tree stumps, illuminated in the evenings, forms a ring shape, offering a special spot to enjoy the view. This design embodies Arc’teryx’s commitment to nature and design communication. The facility also includes mountain-themed artworks to reflect the brand’s origins. Notable works include washi craftsman Hatano Wataru’s calligraphy in the basement conference room, indigo farmer and dyer BUAISOU’s work near the first-floor office, TSUBAKI’s courtyard artwork with native Japanese plants, Japanese artist Ishiyama Kazuhiro’s two-dimensional Himalayan mountain piece in the second-floor lounge, and manga artist Yuichi Yokoyama’s wall art featuring a Mt. Fuji poem motif in the second-floor conference room.

visitors enter through an automatic door made of slanted, indigo-dyed boards that form Arc’teryx initial

the facility includes a first-floor sewing and work area for prototypes, a second-floor office for designers, and more

an office with a courtyard view is reminiscent of Japanese mountain scenery

large cutting tables near desks are featured on the second-floor office space

sound-absorbing cypress-louvered ceiling ensures a quiet workspace

the production area is centered around numerous sewing machines

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ORAFU architects covers the atrium-facing wall with cypress display shelves

showcasing the brand’s archives, the shelves reflect Japanese culture and craftsmanship

mountain-themed artworks reflect the brand's origins

a consistent louvered ceiling emphasize unity between levels

partitioned by glass walls, the workshop is backed by organized materials and tools

accommodating both indoor and outdoor events, the basement event space opens fully via three sliding doors

neutral tones and wooden furniture create a serene working environment

glass-clad facade fills the space with natural light

illuminated in the evenings, the rooftop bench forms a ring shape

project info:

name: Arc’teryx Tokyo Creation Center
architect: TORAFU architects | @torafuarchitects 
location: Tokyo, Daikanyama, Japan
production: D.BRAIN
lighting design: BRANCH LIGHTING DESIGN
landscape design: TSUBAKI
furniture: Karimoku | @karimoku_official
yanase cedar: KIDZUKI | @kidzuki_official
indigo dyeing: BUAISOU | @buaisou_i
wooden office table: Wataru Kumano | @watarukumano
interior styling: Yusuke Takeuchi | @116.107.107
art: BF Wataru Hatano, 1F TSUBAKI・BUAISOU, 2F Kazuhiro Ishiyama, Yuichi Yokoyama
area: B1F: 307.30 sqm/1F: 259.78 sqm/2F: 198.53 sqm
photographer: Tomooki Kengaku | @kentomoooo
drone movie: Joel Fuller | @joelkfuller

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom