To establish a coherent design identity throughout the building, the renovation process began with the development of its concept and logo.
The concept, “CREATIVE HUB,” envisions a place where art students and people of different nationalities and backgrounds can come together, allowing new ideas and forms of expression to emerge through everyday interaction. The logo retains the identity of the existing name, KINO-RYO, while using an inverted computer power symbol as its central motif. By reinterpreting a familiar symbol from a different perspective, the design represents a place where diverse personalities and values meet and are transformed into new ideas.
The wall directly facing the entrance was clad in fire-retardant Western red cedar arranged in an overlapping weatherboard pattern. The natural variations in the color and character of each board were treated as an expression of the individuality of the people who gather here, creating a symbolic backdrop that welcomes residents and visitors into the building. The communal lounge on the ground floor provides a variety of settings at different heights, including dining tables, sofas, café tables, and a kitchen counter that can be used while standing. Residents can choose where to spend their time according to their mood or purpose—whether concentrating alone, talking with others, sharing a meal, or working together. In the shared corridors, the lighting fixtures feature lamp holders made from a range of materials, including wood, steel, verdigris-finished metal, mortar, and brass. While maintaining a consistent lighting language, the individual material expressions introduce diversity within a unified design.
The aging wet areas on each floor were also completely renovated. While ensuring functionality and ease of maintenance, the use of materials and detailing reminiscent of built-in furniture creates a warmer and more comfortable atmosphere, avoiding the cold and utilitarian character often associated with shared facilities.
The project aims for KINO-RYO to become more than simply a place to live. By encouraging people of different nationalities and backgrounds to connect, encounter one another’s perspectives, and inspire new forms of expression and activity, everyday life itself can become a catalyst for creativity—allowing KINO-RYO to grow into a true “CREATIVE HUB.”