Furukawa Manufacturing Office and Factory Designed by Jo Nagasaka + Schemata Architects

Located in the historic industrial city of Ōta, Gunma Prefecture, the Furukawa Manufacturing Office and Factory by Jo Nagasaka + Schemata Architects is a groundbreaking project that merges industrial functionality with innovative architectural design. Completed in 2024, the 6,805 m² headquarters and factory serve as the new face of Furukawa Manufacturing, a company renowned for its tailor-made production systems for automobile parts and industrial automation.

Context and Vision

Furukawa Manufacturing has long supported major automotive and industrial clients by designing integrated production systems, combining processes such as welding, material handling, and conveyance through advanced robotics. Despite its technical expertise, the company historically struggled with visibility and brand recognition, as its operations were mostly confidential and scattered across multiple locations. This challenge also limited its ability to attract skilled human resources, particularly in an industry facing talent shortages.

The primary goal of this project was to consolidate various dispersed functions into a single, unified headquarters and factory. The architects aimed to create open, expressive architecture that communicates the company’s identity while accommodating highly specialized industrial functions.

Master Planning and Design Strategy

The 20,000 m² site is a large, flat plot bordered by public roads. Rather than isolating the factory with walls or fences, the design emphasizes continuity with the surrounding urban environment. The exterior areas, including parking lots, are seamlessly paved with asphalt, and signage mirrors conventional road systems, creating a coherent connection between the site and its surroundings.

A consistent 1.2-meter grid system was applied throughout the project, linking interior spaces, office layouts, and exterior graphics. This grid provides a unified organizational framework that accommodates diverse programmatic needs, including parking, plantings, signage, road markings, and building placement. Glass walls and exterior graphics interconnect with the grid, establishing a visually cohesive environment that reflects the company’s precision-driven culture.

Interior Planning and Functionality

The office and factory spaces were designed with rational planning based on functional relationships. Each floor serves specific purposes while maintaining a consistent architectural language:

• First Floor: Cafeteria for 80 employees, designed as a welcoming communal space.
• Second Floor: Large conference and training rooms connected to the cafeteria atrium, supporting visitors and collaborative programs.
• Third & Fourth Floors: Open-plan office spaces with desk areas and four conference rooms to encourage communication and efficiency.
• Fifth Floor: Executive offices and the president’s suite, featuring an outdoor terrace and meeting rooms for strategic planning.

Lighting, furniture, partitions, and circulation were all meticulously coordinated with the site-wide grid system, ensuring a unified and expressive architectural “face” that communicates the company’s presence without uniformity or monotony.

Architectural Identity and Branding

The project forms the core of Furukawa Manufacturing’s rebranding initiative, improving the company’s visibility and identity within the industrial sector. By integrating offices, production lines, and public-facing areas, the architecture enhances collaboration between factory and administrative staff, streamlines production feedback loops, and strengthens employee engagement.

Since completion, the project has significantly improved recruitment efforts, particularly attracting experienced professionals and women in the region. Face-to-face communication between factory operators and management has increased, directly improving product quality, efficiency, and innovation.

Materiality and Sustainability

The design employs transparent and open materials, including extensive glass façades and exposed structural systems, reinforcing visibility and connectivity while maintaining operational efficiency. Exterior landscaping, road markings, and signage were carefully integrated to optimize circulation and create a visually dynamic industrial campus.

Jo Nagasaka + Schemata Architects’ Furukawa Manufacturing Office and Factory exemplifies modern industrial architecture that balances functional precision with expressive design. By consolidating dispersed operations into a unified headquarters, the project strengthens brand identity, enhances employee collaboration, and elevates manufacturing visibility, setting a benchmark for contemporary industrial facilities in Japan

All photographs are works of  Takumi Ota