Architect : NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD / NIKKEN ACTIVITY DESIGN lab
Photographer: SS Osaka Co.,Ltd. / FUSE Inc.
Contractor: TAISEI CORPORATION
●“inovas”, where innovation is born
This space has been built as a global base for research and human resource development, where researchers can gather to explore new business areas, such as the environment and life sciences.
Of paramount importance to innovation are spaces that can daily inspire awareness, encounters, and diverse workstyles and activities. Zoning has been organically coordinated between the atrium “garden” and the countless niche spaces connecting each zone. This blends each of these areas together, creating diverse opportunities for communication.
※“inovas” is a coined from a combination of the words “innovation” and “novas” (“nova” in Latin).
● Vast architectural space that can be transformed to meet changing needs
Just as we use stationery in different ways as the occasion demands, we aimed to create a space that can change day-by-day depending on work content, people, and moods. We composed a space to increase the frequency of activity encounters by prioritizing the question of how best to create innovation.
We have defined seven types of work styles to inspire innovation—chance encounters, dialogue, collaboration, seclusion, taking chances, fascination, and cordial reception—designing free and convenient spaces and furniture to draw out each of these different styles.
Materials that require little surface finishing have been incorporated into the design (ceilings with backing steel, plywood for structures, cement materials, and scaffolding boards). We believe that the space could be used to inspire and stimulate the development of new ideas by leaving room for researchers to customize the space for different uses through trial and error.