OCA TOKYO
A Space That Turns Even
the Slightest Detail Into a "Painting".
OCA TOKYO
A Space That Turns Even
the Slightest Detail Into a "Painting".
OCA TOKYO is a private club that was born in Marunouchi in 2021 as a new gathering place where diverse people can freely come together and interact with each other.
When designing the space, I envisioned scenes of “a special place for oneself” and “It’s a place of openness only known to us “, aiming to create a sense of uniqueness among the people who gather there. Therefore, I boldly designed the entrance to create an exclusive atmosphere and set the tone for the first impression of the space. However, at the same time, it was essential to maintain a sense of comfort and casualness where one could casually mention it as “my cherished place”.
Without evoking repression or tension, the story of people and place unfolds freely as they move and interact with each other. This concept became the core of the design. In other words, it is a philosophy of designing with “people” at the center. For this reason, it was crucial to meticulously detail every aspect of the space to allow people to immerse themselves fully. Most of the products, such as tables and sofas, were designed to be original, creating a space where even the slightest detail becomes picturesque.
Sketch of the entrance at the beginning of the project.
The first step is to consider various patterns from the entrance to the space.
Create a space where neither oppression nor tension is felt,
where the stories of people and places are spun freely.
Initial image of the entrance, the face of the space. The details of the sketch are inhabited by details. This is also the same for the current entrance and the rest of the design.
There can be a person reading a book by the window with a cup of coffee in hand, two people in dialogue while spreading out documents, or a group of people who have never met before gathered at one table to socialise. This is a space where people and stories come to life, and where any situation is acceptable.
By focusing on every single detail that constitutes the space, it creates an exhilarating feeling that cannot be experienced at home, enveloping the senses and the heart in richness. That is OCA TOKYO.
Yuta Yamamoto
Kasumi Nakagawa
Aiko M. Ordovez
Trizza A. Bontia
Misa Watanabe
Its story begins with a chocolate house called “Whites.”
Roots of social clubs. It began in 1963 with a chocolate house called 'Whites', which opened in St James's Street, England.
To begin with, humans have been gregarious creatures since ancient times. In the past, people gathered under bonfires to tell various stories and form communities. Social clubs also functioned as a place to engage with others and fulfil desires beyond the confines of the home or organization.
I want to create a space that revolves around “people”. There are too many spaces that are “buildings for buildings”, “designs for designs”.
When creating a space, think of it like writing a script and imagining people. However, do not set the ending. Because I want to leave room for people to create their stories freely.
When creating a space, start from the entrance. It’s possible to set the tone of the entire space with just one doorknob.
In business, the goal is often to increase foot traffic, but sometimes, designing to deliberately restrain foot traffic can be effective.
Just one material can drastically change the expression. Even with just the combination of materials, it’s feasible to eloquently express the space.
If I can’t find materials I like, I would create them from scratch. That’s also the reason why I design products such as furnitures.
What’s the difference between Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan? Thinking about this can sometimes be a hint.
The very fine details from a very early stage.
It seems that budgets are being cut, resulting in more spaces that feel like extensions of homes or offices, and fewer spaces that leave a vivid impression. I want to create an exhilarating feeling, like when you first dined at a restaurant you’d always admired when you were young.
Architecture relies on technology, but it all starts with thinking through one’s hands.
Spaces even change the way people laugh and the expressions they make in photographs.
A space where the people who gather there can play a leading role. The space that serves as a backdrop for the people should also support their lives in abundance.
Designing the physical surroundings and adding vibrant color to their lives.
No matter how wonderful furniture is gathered from around the world in a spacious area, simply arranging them would just create a showroom.
An open and spacious environment does not necessarily lead to comfort. Manipulating walls cleverly creates rhythm and depth in the space.
For example, just because someone loves the sea doesn’t mean that designing a house where the sea is visible from every place every day is a success. Sometimes, taking an approach where the sea is only visible from a certain standpoint.
