Shueisha's New TOON FACTORY Office Integrates Minimalism With Creative Dynamics

The 135-square-meter workplace showcases minimalist decor, delineated layouts, and customized furnishings.

Kenya Chiba

GAMMA Architects designed the second phase of Shueisha's TOON FACTORY facility, developing an enlarged workspace specifically for the company's manga and WEBTOON operations. The workplace encompasses 135 square meters, embodying the studio's dedication to spatial clarity, functional zoning, and the enhancement of creative processes for sketching, storyboarding, and content editing.

The project encountered difficult circumstances, particularly with a tenant floor that was elongated, constricted, and featured a notably low ceiling height of roughly 2,200 mm, with apertures restricted to one side. To mitigate the feeling of confinement and visual limits, the architects embraced a fundamental concept: transforming these physical constraints into a creative advantage. The interior design harmonizes minimalism with whimsical elements, reflecting the creative essence of the publishing firm.

Kenya Chiba

Neutral hues and streamlined forms prevail throughout the area, but well selected furnishings and understated textures contribute warmth and character. The strategic implementation of walls and diverse ceiling heights defines spaces while maintaining visual continuity. The outcome is a workspace that is both unified and versatile, perfect for a company engaged in digital storytelling and visual media. This theme integration directly encompasses the furniture and material specifics. The waiting room featured seating inspired by the classic LC2 chair, with upholstery made from repurposed weekly magazines, such as Weekly Shonen Jump. Artisan craftspeople meticulously wrapped the upholstery piping with magazine covers, a detail that integrates the company's distinct aesthetic philosophy into the environment and honors the fundamental process of hand-drawing intrinsic to manga creation.