satoru hirota architects: GaW office + warehouse

‘GaW’ by satoru hirota architects, tochigi, japan image © satoru hirota architectsall images courtesy of satoru hirota architects

‘GaW’ is a headquarters and warehouse for an environmental equipment enterprise in tochigi, japan, completed by tokyo-based firm satoru hirota architects. the offices are housed within a three-storey rectilinear structure with floor plate voids to create an airy working atmosphere. a double height space bordered with glass has direct access to an outdoor terrace and views to the landscape, generating a resort experience for employees. the second floor contains the lounge and third level event space with conference and meeting rooms of diverse sizes which may be joined.

the north and west facing glass curtain wall is double-glazed with an intermediary airspace to insulate from high summer temperatures. adjacent to the transparent building is the storage facility, a wood-clad cube with translucent clerestory windows to introduce natural daylight. contrasting the white shell, lines of brightly colored containers are stacked for a playful and visual interesting product identification system.

exterior image © satoru hirota architects

exterior image © satoru hirota architects

‘GaW’ by satoru hirota architects, tochigi, japan image © satoru hirota architects

ground level president’s office image © atsushi nakamichi

(left) office space on ground floor image © satoru hirota architects(right) double height office space image © atsushi nakamichi

conference rooms image © satoru hirota architects

at night image © satoru hirota architects

warehouse storage image © satoru hirota architects

illuminated at night image © atsushi nakamichi

glass facade of the office building illuminated at night image © atsushi nakamichi

office and adjacent warehouse image © atsushi nakamichi

site plan and urban context plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

floor plan / level 2

section

section

elevation

elevation

elevation

elevation

project info:

project: GaW (glass and whitewall)
 location of site: tochigi,japan
 program: office + warehouse
 architect: satoru hirota architects / satoru hirota 
 structural design: cremona institute / masahiro shirasu machinery design: ymo / hiroyuki yamada contractor: maruyama kogyo / hitoshi akutsu + katsuaki ito interior coordination: ozone / miki sakamoto site area: 3258.68m2
 building area: 339.79m2 total floor area: 1094.05m2
 year of completion: 2010
 photo credits: atsushi nakamichi, satoru hirota architects