Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture
Doors & Railings & Stairs
In this project, our components were used as part of an office renovation project for a company involved in the recycled paper business in Gifu. The concrete space is basically arranged with monotone items, and we delivered the window surfaces, handrails and stairs of the meeting room as black steel frames to create the impression of strength in the space as well as in the design. When used by a company, the number of users is very different from that of ordinary households. The feeling of use must also be tougher. At the same time, the design needs to motivate the people who work there. The work to understand the design intent was also unique and a project that we enjoyed working on.
Painting and welding
The durability of the painted surface is important, as the company’s interior will be traversed by people with dirt feet. Strength is achieved by blasting the surface so that the paint does not peel off and the finish does not spoil the impression of the space. The staircase also has a unique welded surface. Although simple, the steps are finished in a way that the welding surface is not visible, so we focused on a finish that looks like it was made by folding a single piece of steel. On the other hand, the handrail and the staircase are finished in such a way that only a small amount of the welding surface is visible. This is because the ceiling surface of the space was designed to have a bare concrete surface, and by intentionally showing a slight roughness on the staircase as well, it creates a presence that blends in better within the space.
Separate spatial awareness
The presence of steel can cut a strong sense of awareness within a single large space. In this space, with its meeting space and free-access desks, the aim is well realised. By deliberately varying the thickness of the components, the roles of frame, blindfold and wardrobe are well formed. This is a design feat. For our part, the painted surface is even smoother to create a more classy look, unlike the thermal spray and paint technique used for the staircase and other parts of the building. The use of stainless steel for the door handles maintains the durability of the hand-touched parts and the design’s appearance against the black. The overall impression is that they contribute to creating a certain degree of tension as a component.
