Schemata Architects has designed the Uchida Shōten New Head Office in Fujisawa, Japan.

A regeneration of a narrow-fronted, deep townhouse-type building along the historic Tōkaidō Road, this project repositions the new head office for Uchida Shōten, a 160-year-old hardware manufacturer in Fujisawa.

The street-facing portion is allocated to occasional artist residencies, allowing the atmosphere of production and inhabitation to seep into the city.

Awning windows that open and close like breathing devices constantly recalibrate the boundary between interior and exterior.

Set within a former post town, the design reactivates the street with human activity and subtle presence, gently reconnecting the city, the company and creative practice.