Innovation and Production Center Fabrica by Obayashi Corporation

Innovation and Production Center Fabrica by Obayashi Corporation is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum in Architectura Competition Category.

AesArchitectura· 2021

Innovation and Production Center Fabrica

by Obayashi Corporation

Client: Riken Keiki Co., Ltd.

Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum Winner in Architectura Category

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Verified Award Winner
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Colors

The Design

About Innovation and Production Center Fabrica

Centrum Novationis et Productionis est aedificium coniunctum ad investigationem et fabricationem destinatum, opificio detectorum gasi in regione industriali suburbana Tokiae serviens. Complexus sex tabulata et aream totam 24.800 metrorum quadratorum continet. Duo aedificia ponte iunguntur, qui departamenta progressionis et productionis coniungit. Rimae, pinnulae et fenestellae transversae frontibus speciem accuratam et politam praebent. Terrasses virides, eadem altitudine in utroque aedificio positae, caelum viride efficiunt. Consilium eo spectat ut collaboratio inter departamenta sustineatur et productivitas intellectualis augeatur.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum

Innovation and Production Center Fabrica victor est Praemii A' Design Award Aeneum, honoris multum aestimati formis egregiis, creandi ingenio, sollertia et acumine insignibus dati. Victores Aenei opera perita et mire creandi sunt, quae experientiam, imaginationem et solertiam auctorum suorum confirmant. Exspectatur Innovation and Production Center Fabrica rem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, notabiliter professionalem et novam fore. Haec forma Aeneo victa optimas consuetudines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae amplectitur et in cura minutiarum excellit. Innovation and Production Center Fabrica necessitates egregie explet, cupiditates tangit, sensus capit et curiositatem allicit.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This building is innovation center and production center for a gas detector manufacturer in an industrial area on the suburbs of Tokyo.
This project is part of the consolidation and reorganization of the facilities of Riken Keiki, the pioneer of gas detectors in Japan. By relocating and consolidating its development and production sites from central Tokyo to the suburbs, the company aims to increase intellectual productivity and speed up the development process.
Dimensions & Packaging: Floor:6, Area:24800 square meters
Tags: architecture, facade, R&D Center, Production Center, Tokyo, suburbs
Production Technology: The main facades of the two buildings are unified by the same method of integrating different volumes with an L-shaped motif. The linear elements such as slits, fins, and louvers are used to express a sensor-like impression of precision and sophistication. The façade, with its delicate and diverse expressions, is unique and does not look like a production facility at first glance in the industrial area.
In addition, by placing the green terraces at the same height of the two buildings, we created a green skyline. The green skyline creates a richness in the industrial landscape.
Design Challenge: The most difficult part was the planning of the bridge connecting the two buildings.
The bridge was penetrated into the building and supported by the beams on the second floor of both buildings. The Innovation Center is earthquake-resistant, while the Production Center is seismically isolated, so the two buildings would move differently during earthquakes. In order to follow the movement of the two buildings, the one side is supported by pins and the other side by rollers.
Research: Based on the hypothesis that intellectual productivity can be improved by increasing opportunities to switch minds throughout the day, the interior design was based on the keyword "switching " of the researcher's thinking.
Switching methods include color switching and color temperature switching.
Color Switching: In the innovation center, each floor is given a different floor color.
Color temperature switching: The production center has different lighting color temperatures for production areas and common areas. It encourages the switching of on/off modes.
Inspiration: We planned the architecture with a focus on how to adjoin the innovation center and the production center, how to integrate them, and how to link the development and production departments. In designing the building, we tried to give form to the client's requirements of creating a presence for RIKEN KEIKI, creating a work environment that inspires imagination and strengthening collaboration between departments and increasing intellectual productivity.
Project Duration: The project started in 2012 and finished in 2020 on the suburbs of Tokyo,JAPAN
Operation Flow: The two buildings are connected by a bridge in order to strengthen collaboration between the development and production departments. In addition to easy access to both sides of the building, the green terrace and the adjacent communication space encourage communication between employees and provide a place to increase intellectual productivity.
In this rapidly changing world, an architecture that enables seamless coordination between development and production will become a base for manufacturing that can efficiently and speedily open up the era.
Team Members: Architect: Goichi Kamochi, Hiroshi Satake, Kenji Matsuoka, Kentaro Yasufuku, Fuki Sato
Image Credits: Keita Yamamoto/ Nacasa and Partners Inc.
Naomichi Sode/ SS Tokyo Corporation