A groundbreaking small office building in Kitakyushu, Japan, has been completed by Furumori Koichi architectural design studio in collaboration with Daiki Kuwahara, showcasing an innovative approach to sustainable workplace design. The 444-square-meter building, completed in 2024, serves as the headquarters for Ecoplan Corporation, a company specializing in wildlife and vegetation research, and represents a unique fusion of environmental consciousness and architectural innovation.
The project emerged from the architects' deep understanding of their client's mission and work culture. During initial meetings at Ecoplan's previous office, the design team was struck by the sight of fishing nets and wetsuits drying outside—a vivid reminder of the hands-on nature of environmental fieldwork. These engaging conversations inspired the architects to envision the building as more than just a workplace, but as a platform for raising ecological awareness within the surrounding residential community.
The building's most distinctive feature is its hexagonal structural framework, inspired by naturally occurring geometric patterns. To avoid overwhelming the street-facing side of the site, the architects positioned the building toward the rear of the property. The back boundary of the lot formed a 120-degree angle, which led them to explore unconventional layout strategies using a hexagonal grid that responded naturally to the site's unique geometry.
This hexagonal design draws inspiration from nature's own architectural solutions, as seen in snowflakes, honeycombs, and basalt columns. These naturally occurring forms offer both structural integrity and spatial efficiency. By incorporating this organic geometry into an artificial construct like architecture, the designers aimed to create a deeper sense of harmony between the building and its natural surroundings, perfectly aligning with the client's environmental mission.
One of the project's most innovative aspects is its sophisticated natural ventilation system. While the building benefits from consistent and pleasant breezes due to its elevated site location, the architects recognized that many urban office projects avoid operable windows due to concerns about wind turbulence or poor air quality. In their past experience, even when ventilation windows were provided, users hesitated to open them, fearing that strong gusts might scatter papers or disrupt the workspace.
To address this challenge, the design team collaborated with environmental engineers to develop custom "ventilation control panels." They produced multiple prototypes with varying aperture ratios and conducted extensive wind tunnel testing to arrive at an optimal configuration. These specially designed panels, used in combination with operable glass windows, enable the interior to comfortably take advantage of natural ventilation across a wide range of weather conditions, significantly reducing the building's energy consumption.
The building's community engagement aspect was validated during its open house event, where teachers and students from the neighboring high school's biology club visited the facility. This visit reaffirmed the architects' hope that the building would not only support the daily work of environmental researchers but also serve as a gentle yet effective platform for fostering environmental awareness within the local community.
The project team included lead architects Koichi Furumori, Kohei Hashisako, and Kenichi Anai from Furumori Koichi architectural design studio, working alongside Daiki Kuwahara. The structural engineering was handled by Kenichiro Takashima, while landscape architecture was provided by Tomohiro Urata. General construction was completed by Azuma kensetu, with architectural photography by Kyoko Omori capturing the building's unique design elements.
The architects believe that architecture has the power to communicate values, and in this case, those values are care, curiosity, and respect for the natural world. The Office in the Breeze stands as a testament to how thoughtful design can create spaces that not only serve their functional purpose but also inspire environmental stewardship and community engagement through innovative architectural solutions.
