Co-living and co-creating is the common theme and approach that runs throughout coworking company Tomore’s pilot space
Japan’s Sides Core Studio was tasked with creating a brand-new space for co-working company Tomore. Based in Nihonbashi, central Tokyo’s buzzing commercial district, Tomore wanted to cater to the growing number of people looking for a different way to work, socialise – and even live.
“In this project, we plan to operate a facility that integrates a ‘share house’ and a co-working space, and operate a community that connects people who live and gather there online and offline,” says the company. “Those who sympathise with the concept can co-create there on a daily basis.”
The emphasis is very much on meeting like-minded souls and embarking on interesting conversations and even new work opportunities. The first phase – dubbed Tomore Zero – is a welcoming work area with desks, a conference room and two private rooms for meetings.
But it’s not all just nose to the grindstone here. A more relaxed space, kitted out with a comfy custom-made modular sofa, a low platform with a round table, and a coffee counter, is also provided for those who want to work in a more informal fashion or just take some time to relax and recharge.
The design weaves in plenty of references to Japan’s traditions too. For instance, before entering the social zone, members are invited to kick off their shoes and leave them on a brick kustunugi ishi – much like a stone found outside many traditional homes where guests are asked to remove their shoes.
Those wishing to have a meeting – or to eat together in the evening – can use the large dining table here. Sohei and Sumiko Arao, Side Core’s husband-and-wife team, designed all the light fixtures as well as the trestle tables, which can be easily stowed away to make room for events.
The designers have purposefully left much exposed concrete to bring texture to the space and the back wall features graffiti by artist yang02, who took his cue from Tomore’s concept of spontaneous mixing and the sparking of new ideas.
Images by Takumi Ota