Winner: Interior project of the year and workplace interior (small) of the year 2025. Symbolplus has renovated the interiors of a timber office building, drawing on vernacular materials and techniques to pursue enduring value rooted in place, memory and the owner's architectural ethos in Tokyo, Japan.

Symbolplus Office is the renovation of its own workspace, located in a timber building in Tokyo owned by architect Akio Hayashi.

This project reconsiders the meaning of the office in a hybrid work era. By rejecting synthetic materials in favour of earth plasters, reclaimed washi paper, and traditional joinery, the design expresses our commitment to longevity and place-based design.

"As designers, we see our work as a search for values that transcend trends. This project is both a physical and philosophical embodiment of that pursuit," said Symbolplus.

Judges comments: "This project is so on point in terms of how we want to live and what we should create, both in our use of materials and our understanding of context. It's a fantastic example of how a contemporary interior can be sustainable and respect the past, but also transport you to another world. It's authentic yet futuristic, a perfect merging of two worlds."

Studio: Symbolplus
Project: Symbolplus Office
Credits: Set Up Co, Mirai Sousaku-Jo and Keishin