Expandy Office

Expandy Office

Expandy Office is an award-winning interior space design project that exemplifies the synthesis of European industrial aesthetics with Japanese spatial sensibilities, realized as a corporate office environment situated on the second floor of an expansive logistics warehouse in Hyogo, Japan. Completed between February and May 2024, this 115.89 square meter office space was conceived for a company specializing in the export of Japanese products to international markets, with the design emerging from extensive collaborative discussions between a Spanish business owner and Japanese designer Shunsuke Ohe of LUSTYdesign Inc. The conceptual framework of Expandy Office draws inspiration from the raw, dynamic character of historic European and American warehouse architecture, translating these qualities into a contemporary workspace through a predominantly monotone palette that emphasizes rough textures and inorganic materiality. The design strategically employs wood wool cement board for wall surfaces, complemented by cement finishes and textile applications, while the ceiling incorporates cloth and wood elements, and the flooring utilizes PVC tile to achieve durability appropriate for commercial use. Recognizing that an entirely monochromatic scheme could create an overly austere environment unsuitable for productive office work, the design incorporates carefully calibrated interventions including a distinctive louvered ceiling finished in the client's three corporate logo colors, which introduces chromatic variation while maintaining the industrial aesthetic vocabulary. The spatial composition further integrates biophilic elements through the strategic placement of colorful potted plants, which serve as organic counterpoints to the predominantly inorganic material palette, thereby humanizing the workspace and enhancing occupant wellbeing. The functional layout demonstrates sophisticated understanding of circulation patterns and operational efficiency, with careful simulation of staff and visitor movement informing the spatial organization; the president's office occupies the rear portion of the space and employs glass partitioning to maintain visual connectivity with the main work area, facilitating communication between leadership and staff while preserving acoustic separation when necessary. This transparent boundary condition also contributes to the perception of spatial expansiveness within the relatively compact footprint, demonstrating how material selection can influence phenomenological experience of architectural space. The project addressed significant technical challenges inherent to adaptive reuse of existing warehouse structures, including concerns regarding structural integrity and thermal performance of the aging building envelope, requiring the design team to implement appropriate remedial measures that would not compromise the intended aesthetic character. The transformation from the client's previous outdated office environment to this renewed space has demonstrably improved staff motivation and enhanced client perceptions, contributing tangible value to business development objectives. Expandy Office received the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design category in 2025, one of the world's most prestigious design competitions, which recognized the project's creative integration of materials and technology, professional execution, and potential to influence industry standards through its thoughtful balance of form and function. The design exemplifies contemporary approaches to workplace design that prioritize both aesthetic coherence and functional performance, demonstrating how industrial vernacular can be adapted to create engaging professional environments that support organizational culture and operational requirements while maintaining distinctive visual identity.

Interior Space Design, Warehouse Conversion, Industrial Aesthetic, Office Layout Planning, Material Juxtaposition, Workplace Environment Design

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Expandy Office.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/expandy-office?E=482816 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"