Workshop Nanokawa is a minimalist space located in Fukuoka, Japan, designed by CASE-REAL. Hum is a domestic jewelry brand known for its traditional and artisanal techniques. This project was Hum’s new base in Fukuoka, to be used as a place for their metal work classes. The given tasks were to create a open atelier where people who want to “make” and “learn” can use freely, along with a gallery space for exhibitions on a regular basis. Located on the 2nd floor of a four story high building, the site had a distinct character with a long corridor dividing the floor in two sections with two large openings. The architects decided to use these characteristics and maintained the glass walls and openings to keep the spaciousness. The gallery space was placed along the corridor, and separated with a glass partition the class room space was placed in the back. They created a perspective where the rooms with different functions can be seen overlapped in layers. Inspired from industrial factories, the interior floors were finished with a pink acrylic paint, and the ceilings were kept in its original rough skeleton tone. The center work desk was made from birch plywood, with its form deriving from the basic metal work-shop desk but with much simple functions where they focused on organizing various cables to keep its cleanness.

Photography by Hiroshi Mizusaki