What kind of interior design is that company's office?

This is a rare opportunity to be shown an office that is not usually accessible, and first we wanted to see the interior of an apparel company's office. So, we first visited the headquarters of "BEAMS," a pioneer of select stores with more than 30 labels and brands. The office is located in the center of Harajuku, and each department is spread over five floors from the third to the seventh. The head office interior was designed by creative director Kojiro Nagumo, who has been in charge of numerous store displays. Currently, he is working mainly on orders from outside the company, ranging from interior coordination and interior design of model rooms to exhibition planning and composition.

On the approach from the elevator, you will be greeted by artwork by an artist who has a connection with BEAMS. The special artwork is a reminder that BEAMS is well versed in culture and invites guests to enjoy their visit. The powerful artwork is displayed on all floors, making it look like a gallery.

Let's take a look at each floor in turn, starting from the 3rd floor.

The reception desk is located on the third floor, and visitors are shown to private rooms and tables on each floor. Visitors to "BEAMS" come in all ages and types of industries, from stylists and apparel clients to collaborators from other industries and artists. In front of the reception area, where such a diverse range of people visit, a shelf incorporating benches displays a wide variety of items, including folk art and modern objects, so that many people can respond to them. And next to the reception desk is a chronological display of archives from the time of the establishment to the present. It is not usually open to the public, but we were given a special opportunity to see it.

One of the most notable features of the interior design of the BEAMS office is the open free space by the window on each floor. These spaces can be used freely for breaks, meetings, etc., and are decorated with different tastes for each floor. Furniture used in the store was reused and designed by Nagumo.

Employees can use the free space on any floor, and it is also a place where they can communicate with people from different departments. This bar counter is located in the free space on the third floor and is popular among in-house staff not only for enjoying drinks, but also as a place for communication across departmental boundaries and responsibilities. The bar is used as an in-house bar every Friday night and is regularly opened to business partners during events.

Then the 4th floor. Booths are set up on the sofa side, so you don't have to worry about your neighbors' line of sight. There is a high counter table by the window, like in a café, where people can be seen working silently on their computers. In the back are a sofa from The Conran Shop, which was used at Tokyo Culture by BEAMS on the third floor of BEAMS Harajuku, and a table from BEAMS Boy Home in Daikanyama (the current location of Children's BEAMS). The black painted walls create a sense of calm, and the "Flos" wall lamps give the room a chic image.

The fifth floor is a free space with a pop of blue. They collected unused blue furniture here and painted the walls blue as well. The refreshing space, which seems to be connected to the view outside the window, is filled with masterpiece furniture, including chairs by Arne Jacobsen and Alvar Aalto and tables by Hans J. Wegner and George Nelson. A poster of the Metropolitan Museum of Art displayed in the back adds a nice accent.

The 6th floor with unique free space. The daisy-shaped bench provides a pleasant view of the scenery from a high vantage point. Designed with the same material as the flooring and painted beige on the walls, the natural feel is relaxing. The three benches are sometimes used for previews or in-house lectures.

All floors are free space, but only the 7th floor is a bit special. This vintage Chieftain chair by designer Finn Juhl is an original Niels Vodder creation. It was used at BEAMS HOUSE Marunouchi several decades ago, but over time it has become rare and valuable and is now a museum piece. The lighting was styled using the same lighting as that used in Finn Juhl's own residence, a piece that is dedicated to his view of the world. A cabinet from Svensk Tenn, decorated with Lucy Lee's vessels, accelerates the atmosphere. Although it is not a place to relax, the environment where one is exposed to the real thing on a daily basis is sure to improve one's aesthetic sense.

There is also the president's office on the 7th floor. President Shitara was not present, but I had a quick look around. The sofa and table in the center of the room were designed by interior designer Vladimir Kagan. The sofa and table in the center of the room are by Vladimir Kagan, who ordered them from his studio in New York before Tom Ford hired Vladimir Kagan for Gucci's interior design. The desk is made by Baker and is a reissue of one used by Walt Disney. The shelves are decorated with a variety of books and objects, which gives us a glimpse of the entire "BEAMS" brand, while also showing the wide range of genres that President Shitara has covered.

The headquarters of BEAMS, where masterpiece furniture is lined up in the free space that many people use for lunch or a break. I feel that using these items on a regular basis helps to improve one's sense of style. I would like to patronize what are called "masterpieces" even if I have to grow a little taller.