Tokyo, a city where tradition meets the avant-garde, continues to shape global design discourse while embodying the essence of Eastern aesthetics. In Hirakawachō, Chiyoda, Japan’s political and cultural heart, CCD designed the Tokyo Creative Center as a new hub that reflects the studio’s cross-cultural design philosophy.
Conceived as a carefully crafted spatial narrative, the creative center expresses the philosophy of “Symbiosis Between Japan and the West.” Rather than juxtaposing different styles, the project offers a calibrated reinterpretation of Japan’s architectural and cultural heritage, translated into a contemporary design language with global resonance.
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- Photo Credit: Wang Ting, Boris Shiu
Upon entering, visitors encounter If I Were You, a sculpture by contemporary Chinese artist Zhao Lin from the private collection of CCD founder Joe Cheng. The work captures the symbolic strength and spirit of the horse, a motif that reflects the studio’s design aspirations. Poised within the space yet seemingly in motion, the sculpture conveys both dynamism and contemplation.
Drawing on CCD’s extensive hospitality design expertise, the Tokyo Creative Center reimagines experiential scenography, often seen in immersive hotel environments, within a localised office setting. The space moves beyond the conventions of traditional workplaces, evolving into a “micro urban lounge” and a “living laboratory.” Café, lounge, and showroom merge seamlessly, forming a flexible environment that echoes the Japanese ethos of etiquette, collaboration, and balance.
Rendered in a palette of natural, calming tones, the interior exudes elegance. Handcrafted artworks and artifacts, many sourced by the CCD team from Japan and abroad, add cultural richness to the space. Asymmetrical circulation paths, open zones, and adaptable partitions replace rigid office layouts, encouraging fluid interaction while fostering moments of discovery.
In the sofa lounge, three-dimensional paper reliefs by Japanese artist Tetsuya Nagata create a subtle visual narrative. Inspired by the concept of Wagashi Zanmai (“Memory Paper”), the folded forms evoke fish gliding through water, their delicate textures catching the light with quiet elegance.
The Art Gallery, curated by CCD’s lifestyle brand Cosmo Cross, brings together cultural artifacts and artworks from around the world. Presented through a “global collector’s lens,” the display blends diverse traditions into a cohesive visual dialogue that transcends geographical boundaries. Artist Zhao Lin’s clay sculpture Formless offers a meditative counterpoint. With its organic cracks, raw textures, and ambiguous voids, the work explores the philosophical idea of “formless form,” gently inviting viewers into a state of quiet reflection.
At the heart of the space, an island counter stands out as a social anchor fostering the space’s spirit of openness and inclusivity. More than a creative workplace, the CCD Tokyo Creative Center unfolds as a welcoming urban lounge that feels both inspiring and steeped in contemporary nuances.
