moriyuki ochiai crafts chromatic maze from discarded paint samples for showroom in tokyo

labyrinth of colors echoes japan’s shifting seasons

Located in Tokyo, the Labyrinth of Colors is a vibrant showroom conceived by Moriyuki Ochiai Architects to celebrate the versatility of paint. The space, created for a Japanese paint manufacturer, unfolds as a chromatic maze with layers that shift with each movement and gaze. The Japanese studio refashions soon-to-be discarded product sample strips into dynamic visual elements that generate a rhythmic interplay of color and form, with lines and arches that echo Japan’s changing seasons.

moriyuki ochiai architects reuses discarded paint strips

Moriyuki Ochiai Architects’ concept draws inspiration from the transient seasons, echoed in the lines of color drawn on the walls. These marks, reminiscent of the Earth’s rotation, set the tone for the space, filling it with vibrant hues. ‘Since the four seasons are the result of a tilt in the Earth’s axis of rotation, we drew lines of various colors on the walls at an angle matching said axis, thereby rhythmically filling the space with the colors of the rainbow,’ shares the design team.

At the center of the showroom, a series of arches are adorned with bundles of paint sample strips, forming a labyrinth-like structure that invites visitors to enter a world of color. These arches and their intricate patterns encourage exploration, as visitors move through the space and encounter new chromatic layers from every angle. The strips, positioned to create depth and movement, appear to shift in harmony with the surrounding lines, offering a dynamic contrast or subtle blend, depending on the perspective.

project info:

name: Labyrinth of Colors
architect: Moriyuki Ochiai Architects | @moriyukiochiai

design team: Moriyuki Ochiai, Jun Ueda, Aamir Hayat Khan

location: Tokyo, Japan

constructor: Aslego

paint manufacturer: Osamu Yamaguchi

lighting: Kengo Kawauchi (Daiko Lighting)

photography: Takumi Ota 

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