"The compound sits about five minutes from the firm's former home-office, Tamagusuku House, on a sloping plot surrounded by forest and farmland. The architects chose a steel-frame structure for its openness, speed, and economy, typical of industrial buildings. Construction unfolded in two phases. The workshop came first, followed by the office, whose fittings were fabricated on-site using the newly operational facility."
"A semi-outdoor garden forms a buffer between the noisy, dusty production zone and the quieter office areas. This intermediary space extends the surrounding forest into the site, creating a gradual transition rather than a hard division. Ventilation plays a critical role throughout the project, since air conditioning is impractical for a woodworking shop. The building is designed to open almost entirely, using a double-skin system made from insect netting and roll-up vinyl sheets, materials commonly found in Okinawan agricultural greenhouses."
Studio Cochi established a woodworking studio and office compound in Gushichan, rural Okinawa, integrating production of wooden sashes and fixtures with design work. The steel-frame buildings prioritize openness, speed, and economy and step along the sloping site to minimize excavation and respect shallow bedrock. Construction occurred in two phases: workshop first, then office whose fittings were fabricated on-site. A semi-outdoor garden buffers noisy production and extends surrounding forest into workspaces. Natural ventilation is essential because air conditioning is impractical; the buildings open almost entirely with a double-skin of insect netting and roll-up vinyl, allowing airflow while shielding from weather. The in-house facility ensures consistent craftsmanship, precision, and reliable timelines for timber elements.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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