Kikkoman Corporation

This is a plan to rebuild Kikkoman’s research facility. Soy sauce production has been carried out in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture, for over 300 years. The company evolved from a brewing association formed by a dozen or so families, eventually becoming the Kikkoman we know today. Traditional streetscapes, as if reflecting that history, are scattered around the site. On the other hand, Kikkoman’s former research facility was a closed-off concrete building over 60 years old. We felt that research into soy sauce and food—which is experienced through the five human senses—required a space where changes in the seasons, time, and the five senses could be felt, much like the environment naturally connected to the historic soy sauce warehouses. In fact, the client specifically requested an environment where researchers could work with enjoyment while experiencing the changing rhythms of nature. Therefore, drawing inspiration from the traditional landscapes related to soy sauce production that remain around the site, we sought a design that would carry on this heritage. Main streets connected to narrow alleys, and clusters of row houses formed a continuous fabric of breweries, shops, and residences, with courtyard-like spaces dotted throughout. Drawing on these spatial characteristics, we concluded the building should have a horizontal expanse; consequently, we boldly limited the nearly 10,000-square-meter structure to just two stories. The layout is simple: the first floor houses the experimental area, while the second floor features offices and other open spaces.