Designer Insights: The Future of Offices
Vol.8 Spatial Design Guided by What Your Body Feels: Yusuke Oono’s Vision for Offices
Design born from sensitivity to everyday life
Oono emphasises the relationship with the client as a crucial element in the design process. "Rather than simply returning what the client has given me, I read it, digest it, and then return it in a new form. Discoveries are made during this exchange, and I believe it enriches the architecture", he says.
In design, Oono takes care to ensure the client can be involved like the project is theirs. "I want to avoid the feeling that the design suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The ideal is a space where the client feels that their context is carried on", he explains. He aims for design where the intentions of the client and the designer blend seamlessly.
Oono enjoys walking. "Sometimes, while walking, there are moments when I’m spellbound. Ordinary scenes can suddenly appear different. I want to incorporate these small emotions and discoveries into my design work. Being more sensitive to what you see and feel around you lets you experience an everyday life that’s full of surprises.”
Oono's office is located in an area where neighbourhoods with different atmospheres, such as Daikanyama, Nakameguro, Shinsen, Ikejiri-Ohashi and Shibuya, intersect. He can work on spatial design while experiencing such urban diversity and constant change up close. For him, walking through everyday life must serve as a form of research for creative projects.
Yusuke Oono
Principal of DOMINO ARCHITECTS / Member of FICCIONES / Part-time Lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts / 1st Class Architect
Born in Germany in 1983. Graduated from the University of Tokyo Department of Architecture and completed his master's degree at the University of Tokyo Graduate School. After working at Carrilho da Graça (Lisbon) and NOIZ (Tokyo/Taipei), he established his own firm in 2016. Since 2011, he has been a part-time lecturer at the Tokyo University of the Arts and since 2023 at the Tokyo University of Science.
DOMINO ARCHITECTS
DOMINO ARCHITECTS seeks to connect with history and context through both the practice and theory of design. They undertake design projects that make the relations between information and material, digital and analogue, high-tech and low-tech tangible. Their activities, shaped through collaboration with various teams, span architecture, interior design, product design, research, writing, and education.
Report by: Yasushi Yamazaki／Journalist
With a strong interest in design, Yamazaki joined Tanseisha. In 1997, he participated in the launch of the company’s new business venture "Japan Design Net (JDN)". After serving as the editor-in-chief of associated media such as "JDN" and "Toryumon" and as the director of contest planning and production, he became the director of JDN in 2011. In 2025, he transferred to Tanseisha. He engages in interview writing as well as coordinating talks and judging panels.