The aluminum ceiling enlivens the work area of Shueisha TOON FACTORY
Located in TokyoShueisha TOON FACTORY Office – Phase 2 is a creative phase workplace designed by GAMMA Architects for a company specializing in manga and WEBTOON production. The project expands the company's existing office by remodeling an entire floor in a long, east-west oriented building. The design addresses the specific needs of drawing, storyboarding and editing work, emphasizing both functional efficiency and an environment that encourages creative focus.
The location presented two main challenges: limited natural light due to openings on only one side and a low ceiling height of around 2.2 meters. The design does not obscure these conditions, but rather uses them as generative elements. The blanket becomes the central element and is completely heat-resistant aluminum Adhesive tape, an industrial material not typically used for interior applications. Approximately 20 kilometers of tape were hand-applied by craftsmen in a pattern that appears spontaneous yet maintains a subtle rhythm. The surface creates wavering reflections that change with movement and lighting, evoking the dynamic lines and movement effects characteristic of manga backgrounds.
All images courtesy of GAMMA Architects
GAMMA Architects translates illustration into architecture
This ceiling treatment turns light into a drawing medium and creates a spatial interpretation of the act of illustration. The irregular reflections and overlapping lines register as physical traces of the design process, an architectural translation of hand-drawn energy. The waiting area continues to experiment with materials with custom-made furniture. A sofa inspired by Le Corbusier's LC2 model is reimagined using discarded weekly magazines as upholstery. The piping is wrapped in magazine covers, integrating the visual language of print media into the physical environment. Through these strategies studio GAMMA Architects transforms technical limitations into opportunities for material and conceptual expression. The result is a workspace that visualizes the essence of Shueisha TOON FACTORY's creative practice, an office where drawing, reflection and storytelling merge into a spatial experience.
Shueisha TOON FACTORY Office – Phase 2 by GAMMA Architects in Tokyo
a creative workspace for manga and WEBTOON production
Designed to support drawing, storyboarding, and editing workflows
The interior relies on limited daylight and a low ceiling height