Get the best of Domus straight to your inbox!

Sugamo Shinkin Bank

For the Nakaaoki branch of the Sugamo Shinkin Bank Emmanuelle Moureaux created a space where people wish to stay longer and naturally feel to come back again, with a rhythmical facade that changes expression as people see it from different angles.

Nakaaoki branch of the Sugamo Shinkin Bank is the forth branch where Emmanuelle Moreaux has been commissioned to handle the architectural and interior design.

The common request for all branches is to create a bank where people wish to stay longer and naturally feel to come back again. Nakaaoki branch is located on the corner of major intersection, where there is a frequent movement of cars, busses, bicycles, and people. Taking this unique location as a characteristic, the facade is designed to be rhythmical that changes expression as people see it from different angles.

Colors appear in and out from the rhythmical repetition of cubes, dancing like musical notes playing a rainbow melody. The facade is composed of cubes of four different depths. Colors are applied on the front or side of these cubes, so that the colors appear, disappear or overlap as the direction of view changes.

Small elevated gardens are built inside 12 cubes, where the seasonal changes in nature are expressed by seasonal flowers like marigold, lavender, and growing trees such as olive tree.

Gardens can be seen from the open space on the first floor, and from the financing section and cafeteria on the second floor. Sunlight is filtered through the foliage of elevated gardens on the South facing facade, providing a harmonious and warm atmosphere inside the bank. The interior finishes are settled and muted, compared to the rhythmical movement of the facade.

The colors, flowers and trees appear in and out from the repetition of floating cubes. The ‘melody’ of colors spreads happiness and comfort to visitors and to the people in the local community.