Not a Hotel Architects Transforms Brutalist Tokyo Warehouse into Headquarters
The new office space integrates industrial architecture with rare design classics and functional art.
1Adaptive Reuse Project
Not a Hotel Architects has converted a 1967 logistics warehouse into a new corporate headquarters in Tokyo. The project team preserved the original brutalist structure, highlighting the raw steel frame and exposed concrete surfaces. This adaptive reuse strategy maintains the building's historical industrial character while providing a functional workspace for the company.
2Spatial Organization Strategy
The interior features seven-metre-tall ceilings divided by three-metre-high glass partitions. These partitions organize the floor plan into three distinct rows, creating multiple smaller rooms with specific functions. This layout allows the company to separate different departments while maintaining the airy, open feel of the original massive warehouse structure.
3Integrating Design Classics
The headquarters serves as a physical archive for the brand's design-focused vision. A rare demountable house designed by Jean Prouvé is installed as a dedicated room for meetings and focused work. This inclusion acts as an educational tool for the architectural team, emphasizing material longevity and the beauty of functional design.
4Nigo Lounge Features
Located near the entrance, the Nigo Lounge showcases three walls clad with 352 USM Haller cabinets. These units house various design and art pieces, reflecting the company’s aesthetic inspirations. The space is intended to host owners of the Nigo House, a cliffside hotel property overlooking Tokyo Bay designed by artist Nigo.
5Material Library Innovation
The office includes a unique materials library stored within 96 custom Globe-Trotter trunks. Each trunk contains physical architecture samples that are searchable via QR codes, streamlining the design process for the team. This system combines traditional storage with modern digital tracking to manage the firm's extensive collection of project materials.
6Harumi Lounge Atmosphere
The Harumi Lounge features a 15-metre-long wooden table positioned beneath the high ceilings. Translucent curtains can be deployed on both sides of the area to create a quieter, more private environment. This flexible design allows the space to transition between a collaborative meeting area and a secluded zone for individual work.
7Brand Identity Foundation
Founder Shinji Hamauzu, a vintage furniture collector, established the company with the intent to exhibit design masterpieces within his properties. The headquarters reflects this mission by displaying works by Virgil Abloh, Charlotte Perriand, and Pierre Jeanneret. These pieces serve as a constant reminder of the brand's creative community and core inspirations.
8Industry Recognition and Future
The project is currently shortlisted in the large workplace interiors category for the 2026 Dezeen Awards. Beyond this office, the firm is collaborating with Nigo and Pharrell on a new Tokyo district. These developments underscore the company's ongoing expansion and its commitment to integrating high-concept design into both hospitality and workspace.