A new design hub for Arc'teryx, the innovative outdoor brand, has opened in Tokyo. Torafu Architects incorporated the MAS WK Chair 01 into the center's bold interior concept. Here, Koichi Suzuno of Torafu Architects shares the thinking behind the project.

The Arc'teryx Tokyo Creation Center has opened in a corner of the area connecting Daikanyama and Nakameguro, just west of Kyuyamate Street in Tokyo. The facility serves as an important base for research and design—the very core of Arc'teryx's pioneering and highly functional product development.

When people think of a research and development facility for a top brand, they might imagine a closed-off environment where projects proceed in secrecy. However, this space is quite the opposite. Instead of isolating itself from the outside world, it features an open layout filled with natural light.

"Arc'teryx designers regularly climb mountains themselves and interact with professional athletes, pursuing a hands-on approach to product development," explains Koichi Suzuno of Torafu Architects. "Inspired by their way of working, we developed a spatial concept called 'Outside-in,' which brings the outside environment into the interior." This marks the first time Arc'teryx has established a development hub outside North America. Japan's unique conditions—its hot and humid climate, as well as a cultural tradition of revering mountains as sacred places where spirits dwell—offer new sources of inspiration for product development. By actively bringing elements from the outside into the interior—the idea of Outside-in—the design expresses how Arc'teryx's creative process can continue to expand.

Suzuno carefully selected elements that combine traditional Japanese knowledge and craftsmanship with contemporary design and functionality. Among them, the MAS WK Chair 01 was one of the first pieces chosen. "MAS beautifully translates hinoki, one of Japan's most iconic woods, into a form suited for contemporary living. It represents Japanese craftsmanship itself. From this chair, you can sense the delicate breath of craftsmanship that has long existed in this land."

The meeting room where the MAS chairs are installed is designed for workshops, events, and other activities that require frequent layout changes. Lightweight and stackable up to three chairs high, the WK Chair 01 demonstrates its versatility by easily adapting to a variety of uses.