Representing a forward-thinking approach to industrial design and merging advanced technology with sustainability, Gensler creates a high-functioning and innovative workspace

Aichi, Japan

The MARUWA Seto Factory, designed by Gensler and Takenaka Corporation, is a significant architectural project aimed at transforming the workspace and environment of the MARUWA Corporation, a leading manufacturer of ceramics and electronic components based in Japan.

The factory is located in Seto, Japan, and its design reflects a contemporary approach to industrial architecture, emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and employee well-being.

For its design values, the MARUWA Seto Factory has been awarded a 2024 International Architecture Awards by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

One of the biggest challenges was to take a site long known for illegal dumping and transform it into an asset for the community.

To make the factory open to the surrounding neighborhood, the architects designed an entry plaza to welcome seasonal festivals and events.

Prioritizing the health and well-being of employees, the interior focused on bringing in natural light, redefining the “closed box” environments of the typical factory.

A large, airy atrium provides a space for seamless communication, an unexpected amenity in a manufacturing facility.

The architecture, interior, and landscape design are inspired by Seto-yaki pottery, a traditional local craft.

The shape of the landscape is reminiscent of the unique signature design details, tools, and materials used in the process of making Seto-yaki.

As part of the site transformation, passive technology was used for increased heating and cooling efficiency. Air flowing into the building through ventilation crosses over the water feature to minimize the use of air conditioning.

The large overhangs and terraces shield the interior from excessive direct light, while the pond reflects indirect light toward the windows, reducing the indoor lighting load.

The large, open stairways in the atrium assist airflow inside, and well water from the premises flows to the roof and outdoor AC units.

The architects aspired to create a facility representative of the most advanced and innovative development in the field, bridging the global and the local, creating a new benchmark for worker and community care in Seto.

Project: MARUWA Seto Factory
Architects: Gensler and Associates / International, Ltd.
Design Team: Makoto Isobe, Rie Kurokawa, Takashi Arimoto, Marco Troncarelli, Jeff Maeshiro, and Kosuke Nose
Associate Architects: Takenaka Corporation
Design Team: Kiyokazu Otake, Takuya Ota, and Yutaka Higuchi
General Contractor: Takenaka Corporation
Client: Maruwa Co., Ltd.
Photographs: Courtesy of the Architects