The Japan Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship between the people of the United States and Japan through mutual understanding. Serving as a cultural hub for educators, artists, scholars, and creatives, the institution requires spaces that honor tradition while supporting contemporary exchange.

This project was a conceptual design study exploring a four-level interior environment rooted in Japanese materiality, symbolism, and spatial restraint. The plan was informed by the Japanese flag, using its geometry and contrast as a guiding framework for both layout and visual rhythm. Circular and linear forms were employed to establish clarity, procession, and moments of pause throughout the space.

A restrained palette of materials was selected to reinforce this narrative. White unpolished concrete and translucent concrete were used to balance solidity and lightness, while bamboo, natural stone, and shou sugi ban whitewashed wood introduced warmth, texture, and cultural continuity. Together, these materials create a dialogue between permanence and permeability.

The furniture plan and sectional studies emphasize flow and gathering. Public zones such as the reception, gallery, lecture area, and café were designed to support both movement and congregation, allowing the space to flex between everyday use and large-scale programming. Vertical circulation elements, including the stair and elevator core, were treated as architectural moments rather than purely functional components.

This study prioritizes calm, order, and intention, reflecting the ethos of the Japan Society while offering a contemporary spatial interpretation that supports learning, exchange, and quiet reflection.