Day 2619: Architecture, design, problem solving in Japan.

Obaasan: old photo, collage & digital.

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Ultimate Infill:  

A 9 foot Office Building Rises in a Ginza Alley

all photos by Takumi Ota

Along one of Ginza’s many backstreets, just steps from 

Showa-dori, sat an L-shaped plot of land. 

At just a little less than 9 ft, it had remained vacant 

for the past 3 years, obscured by the shadows of the towering 

grey buildings around it. Until finally a developer stepped in.

The developer teamed up with So Teruuchi of SO&CO 

 to create one of the district’s most skinniest buildings. 

Due to the nature of the property, the architect 

was faced with several constraints: not only did 

they have to leave enough room for scaffolding 

but they couldn’t fit any heavy machinery into the plot. 

So everything had to be done by hand.

The result is a surprisingly minimal, elegant 4-story building. 

Unlike many people’s perception of a high-end and ritzy Ginza, 

the majority of backstreets are filled with drab, nondescript 

office buildings. This structure stands out like a gem. 

Titled “Ginza Tenant Building,” it was completed in early 2019.

The entrance still feels very much like walking into 

an alleyway. But once you’re inside, light pours in 

through the many windows and skylight above.

The structure houses a total of 5 individual offices 

that are separated but accessible via the stairway, 

which doubles as a light-well that feeds light 

into the nooks and crannies. 

There’s also a space behind the entrance designed 

to be used as a retail shop, along with a rooftop.

The building was designed to be leased in its entirety. 

The entire building is currently available for 1.7 million yen, 

or about $16,000 per month. Not bad for the Ginza! 

This checks a lot of my boxes. 

Interest in architecture, design, problem solving and Japan.

Hoping you might enjoy it too?

A smile for Saturday ...