Vertical Rainbow Office Building by SAKO Architects: A Vivid Facade Transformation in Tokyo

Project Title: Vertical Rainbow Office Building Architect: SAKO Architects Location: Tokyo, Japan Project Area: 690 m² Year of Completion: 2019 Lead Architect: SAKO Architects Photography: Koji Fuji Material Highlight: Musashi Paint Holdings – Custom Gradient Outdoor Glass Paint

Reimagining Identity Through Colorful Architecture

In the heart of Tokyo, SAKO Architects has transformed a once-conventional "pencil building" into a striking symbol of innovation and brand identity. The Vertical Rainbow Office Building stands as a vivid, architectural statement for a global paint company, turning its facade into a dynamic representation of its core product—color.

Previously serving as the company's headquarters, the original structure fulfilled only the most basic urban and safety requirements. Now, in its renewed form, it boldly expresses the company's evolution and creative vision through a "vertical rainbow"—a facade composed of gradient-coated laminated glass panels developed in-house.

Innovative Materiality and Minimalist Detailing

At the heart of this transformation is a newly formulated outdoor glass paint, engineered by Musashi Paint Holdings. The gradient hues are applied to tempered laminated glass, with each panel supported by subtle horizontal frames only at the top and bottom. These discreet supports—spanning wider than the building's terraces—enhance the illusion that the facade is formed entirely of floating, colorful glass panes.

This minimalist detailing removes all unnecessary elements, allowing the color itself to become the architectural protagonist.

A Living Facade: Light, Shadow, and Reflection

The building interacts continuously with its environment. Direct sunlight filters through the colored glass, casting vibrant shadows across the terraces and onto neighboring facades. On cloudy days, the reflective quality of the glass blends with drifting clouds, producing a mesmerizing, ever-changing composition reminiscent of digital artwork.

At night, the building continues to captivate: interior lighting softly illuminates the facade, turning it into a glowing “night rainbow” amidst the monochrome of the cityscape.

Interior-Exterior Continuity and Urban Framing

From within, the office experience is redefined. Employees view Tokyo’s chaotic skyline through layers of filtered color, turning ordinary urban views into compositions that resemble abstract photography or impressionistic paintings. The terraces serve as transitional zones where light, air, and chromatic shadows converge—creating a seamless relationship between architecture, art, and atmosphere.

A Bold Statement of Brand and Place

This project is more than a facade renovation—it’s a rebranding through architecture, turning an ordinary office into an urban icon of creativity and innovation. The Vertical Rainbow Office Building by SAKO Architects exemplifies how thoughtful design and bold use of materials can transform not only a structure but also the perception of a company and its place in the city.