The Tokyo-based manga studio has recently completed Phase 2 of the Shueisha TOON FACTORY office. This space is specifically designed for manga and webtoon creation and occupies an entire floor of an east-west oriented high-rise building. Covering approximately 135 square meters, the office has been carefully designed to support design, storyboarding, and editing activities while simultaneously inspiring creativity.
One of the main challenges of this project was limited natural light; the openings are located only on one side of the building, and the ceiling height is very low, approximately 2.2 meters. Instead of concealing these constraints, the architects transformed them into a creative design feature.
At the heart of the design, the ceiling plays a central role: its entire surface is covered with heat-resistant aluminum strips, an industrial material rarely used in interiors. Approximately 20 kilometers of these strips were meticulously applied by hand, creating a pattern that appears random yet maintains a gentle rhythm. The dynamic reflections on the aluminum surface—changing with the movement of people and the natural light—evoke speed lines and moving backgrounds commonly seen in manga, bringing the space to life with energy and motion.
In the office’s reception area (lobby), the architects continued their material exploration: a sofa inspired by Le Corbusier’s iconic LC2 model was designed, but its upholstery is made from discarded weekly magazines. To create a cohesive connection with the print world, the sofa’s metal tubes were also hand-covered with the same magazine pages. This material choice not only adds a conceptual dimension to the space but also reflects the printed publishing identity and the authentic essence of manga creation in the finer details of the office.
Ultimately, the Tokyo manga studio demonstrated through this project that technical constraints—such as low ceiling heights and limited light—can be transformed into opportunities for conceptual design. The result is a creative office that reflects the spirit of content production and storytelling at Shueisha TOON FACTORY, where design, light, and narrative converge to provide an inspiring experience for employees.