TAKIKO is a minimalist office space located in Nagoya, Japan, designed by Airhouse. Although the compact four-story structure originally had a building footprint of just 26.4 square meters, the architects decided to further reduce the interior space by removing the original windows and constructing a new inner layer of exterior walls, thereby creating semi-enclosed terraces on each floor between the old façade and the new walls. All of the new outdoor areas contain potted plants, giving each office a lush green space under the eaves. Even these small buffers between exterior and interior are enough to create a sense of distance from the city outside, making for comfortable, high-quality work spaces. The terrace plantings are equipped with automatic sprinkler systems so they can be easily maintained even when a particular office is not occupied.In order to allow occupants to either use the interior rooms as-is or fix them up as desired, the designers intentionally limited our changes to a coat of paint over the stripped-down spaces when remodeling. Airhouse hoped that the project will both enrich the working environment of those who use the building and serve as catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. The architects  hope that the project will both enrich the working environment of those who use the building and serve as catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. They hope that the project will both enrich the working environment of those who use the building and serve as catalyst for neighborhood revitalization.