Architects: SAKO Architects
Area: 690 m²
Year: 2019
Photographs: Koji Fuji
Manufacturers: Musashi Paint Holdings
Lead Architects: SAKO Architects
City: Toshima
Country: Japan
The “Vertical Rainbow” office building designed by SAKO Architects in Tokyo, Japan transforms the former stereotypical headquarters into a vibrant symbol of the paint company’s identity. The building’s facade features a gradient of colors, created using a new in-house paint for outdoor glass, supported by minimalist horizontal frames. This design element casts colorful shadows and blends with the sky, producing a facade reminiscent of digital art. The colorful glass facade adds layers to the city view, creating an abstract artwork effect. At night, the illuminated glass emits soft colors, forming a “night rainbow” on the street.
The previous headquarters was a conventional pencil building, meeting only the basic legal evacuation requirements. As the company expanded into a global entity, a “vertical rainbow” was introduced on the facade to reflect its identity as a paint company that provides an endless array of colors.
A gradient coating of newly developed in-house paint was applied to tempered laminated glass for the exterior. To give the impression that the facade consists entirely of colorful glass, the glass is held up only by horizontal frames at the top and bottom, which are wider than the terrace, creating a minimalist aesthetic.
The colored glass transforms direct daylight into vibrant light, casting beautiful shadows on the terrace floor and the exterior walls of the neighboring buildings.
On cloudy days, when the sky is more reflective, the shifting clouds and colors merge to form a beautiful facade, resembling digital art.
The view of the city from the office terrace resembles a landscape photograph with layers of color added, transforming the urban scene into an abstract artwork. At night, the glass glows softly, creating a “night rainbow” along the street lined with buildings.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: 2 Chome-30-16 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0022, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
