Architect: Ryuichi Sasaki + Rieko Okumura
Design Team: Ryuichi Sasaki, Rieko Okumura, Kiyoshi Iwabuchi, Miwa Takeuchi / Sasaki Architecture
Contractor: Building System
Photo: Ryota Atarashi
Text: Mieko Watanabe / Sasaki Architecture
Sasaki Architecture renovated a 120 square-meter classroom of a suburban university in Tokyo. The design sought to foster an open environment that also encouraged the students to concentrate on their study. To do so, a monotone color scheme was chosen to give a sense of sobriety to the room. Existing ceilings were removed and sound-absorbent wood-wool panels and fluorescent lighting bars were randomly placed in a syncopating fashion to echo with the arrangement of the windows. This rhythmical arrangement wraps around the upper half of the room to offer a greater sense of space.