Feb 10, 2010
CBS Building | Dasic Architects
Photographs: Peter Cook
CBS Building | Dasic Architects
Location: Shinbashi . Tokyo
Site area: 93.19 m2 / 28.23 tsubo
Building area: 49.09 m2 / 14.58 tsubo
Floor area: 196.36 m2 / 59.50 tsubo
Design: Jan 2007 – Dec 2007
Construction: Jan 2008 – Dec 2008
Project Team
Architects: George Dasic Architects: George Dasic – principal; Yushi Kobayashi – project
architect; Toru Usui; Yuki Miyoshi Nikitaki; Tamaki Suzuki.
Structure:Arup Japan
Construction: Eiger Sangyou
Client: Craig Dibble
Photographs: Peter Cook
Photographs: Peter Cook
Requirements
Functional program called for 3 distinctively different interior functions: Work, Rest and Play. The “work” area neededoffice space and a meeting room for seminars. “Rest” would need a “pod” for use between seminars, to relax after work and occasional overnight stays. “Play” would be a workshop and gallery.There is collection of old cars that needed external space large enough for occasional parking and repairs and Star Track memorabilia that needed a new home.
Site
The site is located in Shinbashi, a Tokyo transport hub. The neighborhood consists of many printers and other small businesses, so far unaffected by the regeneration process-taking place in nearby Shiodome. Roads are narrow and buildings small and tightly packed. There is a setback requirement caused by Tokyoʼs long-term road widening program. It is also corner site meaning that “right of light” rule applies from two directions substantially cutting floor space.
Photographs: Peter Cook
Design Concept
As is often the case the seemingly contradictory requirements of regulation and requirements eventually led to the design concept. We decided to pull the building perimeter further away from the street than regulation required creating a sense of pavement and open space, more associated with European urban fabric and unique in this area. Since the seminar business has frequent visitors arriving and leaving the building it allowed for a “transition” space. Furthermore, it avoided feeling of competing with cars for the entrance, so common within back streets of Tokyo. Increased setback reduced the footprint of the building, but then the volume allowance permitted four comfortable height floors. This matched the 4 main functions (Gallery, Office, Seminars and Living Pod) contained within 3 programmatic elements (Gallery, Business, Pod). This followed a concept of 3 floating cubes, stacked one above the other in the order of “programmatic hierarchy”:
Cube 1 Containing the Gallery on Level 1 with a separate entrance;
Cube 2 Containing the Business space (Office on Level 2 and Seminar room on Level 3);
Cube 3 Containing the Living Pod, with a living area, kitchen and bathroom, on Level 4.
Photographs: Peter Cook
The orientation and the light intake further enhanced the concept. The strip windows separating cubes created a diffused up light effect very much suitable for a gallery and seminar space. At the same time allowing maximum of unbroken walls space for exhibiting artwork in the gallery or business charts in the seminar room. The lighting fixtures are positioned to keep this effect in the evening as well. Pod, on the other hand, is all orientated upwards with a skylight flooding kitchen, bathroom, living and balcony spaces with natural light. The cubes are clad in cut steel panels, which created a “structural” skin assisting with lateral seismic forces. All services (toilets, kitchen, kitchenettes) are concentrated in a vertical core of the building allowing simple internal plumbing and uncluttered exterior. The solid core acts as a separator between the floor areas and staircase and adds to stability. The openings are designed as to allow maximum natural light and air exchange. The top floor ceiling is extruded upwards with opening and fans acting as a chimney drawing warmer air from the lower floors thought the open stair voids and releasing them outside. The top glass roof is louvered to minimize heat intake while allowing in plenty of light. The steel elevation panels are heavily insulated protecting the building from direct heat, plus the office areas benefit from the extra insulation of the Shina-gohan cladding. The buildings orientation and surrounding tall buildings shielding from south and west further assist in maintaining optimum environment. Recyclability and cost of the material played a large role in the selection. The walls of Cube 1 and Cube 3 were painted in white for brightness and to allow for a neutral display background. Cube 1 floor is troweled concrete for durability and use as a workshop. The interior of Cube 2 draws inspiration from oak paneled City of London boardrooms (where the clients business originate from). However, instead of expensive and heavy oak we used Shina-gohan laminated boards, more often used as insulation panels. The cube is completely “carved out” of Shina gohan creating a warm, but business like atmosphere counterbalancing cold and sharp exterior.
Postscript
Shortly after completion the client suffered a severe ski injury severely restricting mobility. The “work, rest and play” design concept was proved by his ability to safely carry on his business and lifestyle while rarely leaving the building.
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