Zenyaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. R&D Center

This is a plan to relocate and construct a new research and development facility for Zenyaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical company that celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2020.In this project, we sought to shift from the conventional building typology of “enclosing the entire site” to a form where “the laboratory areas are enclosed, while the research institute as a whole remains open.” Although “open” is a common term in architectural discourse, we believed it held significant meaning in the context of a research institute.By consolidating office and laboratory functions—which had previously been separated by discipline—into shared spaces, we created a creative environment that transcends disciplinary boundaries. We designed the approach to the site as a lush, open green space, where the scenery reflected on the ceiling serves as an interface connecting the building to the surrounding neighborhood, aiming to create a facility that coexists harmoniously with the local community.