SOHO: Small Office Home Office
While Soho is the name of related neighbourhoods in London and New York, in Japan, the term is most often used to designate a type of room that can serve as both apartment and office. In this usage, “SOHO” is short for “small office/home office” (mixed office/personal use).
That’s the concept behind Soho Odaiba. A large 13-storey collaborative complex located on Tokyo’s waterfront, mixing offices and apartments. The whole thing in a “New York” spirit.
The place includes various flexible work spaces, shared office areas, open-plan layouts, and luxury apartments that fuse office and personal space. Not to mention the common areas: rooftop, bar, gym, and so on.
Soho Odaiba: a symphony of colour
From the outside, nothing gives it away: it’s a simple black cube, as ordinary as can be. But once you step inside, thousands of coloured doors unfold across 13 floors along the outside galleries. An explosion of vibrant tones.
The contrast is striking between inside and outside, a duality embraced by the architectural firm Wonderwall, which designed the project. Their concept? A chic outer envelope vs an inner core like an explosion of colour and energy.
… for an ultra-photogenic spot!
With the striking spectacle of its multicoloured outer doors illuminated at night, Soho Odaiba quickly became a must-see for photography (and Instagram) lovers!
This 13-storey building is probably one of the most photogenic offices in Japan, or even in the world? Who knows! In any case, it’s certainly one of the most photographed right now.
Be warned: the popularity of this place on social media has reached such a point that a sign has been put up to discourage unauthorised visitors and overly enthusiastic Instagrammers.
This is the moment to remind you that access to the site is strictly reserved for people who work there. To enter, you have to apply with security, or content yourself with taking a few shots from the forecourt…
The Soho is one of those buildings you will find in no guidebook. There are more in my 13 lesser-known Tokyo neighborhoods, and the classics are in what to do in Tokyo.
Instagram
