Architect

"Rainbow mille-feuille"

Sugamo Shinkin Bank is a credit union that strives to provide first-rate hospitality to its customers in accordance with its motto: “we take pleasure in serving happy customers.” Having completed the design for branch outlets of Sugamo Shinkin Bank located in Tokiwadai and Niiza, Emmanuelle was also commissioned to handle the architectural and interior design for its newly rebuilt branch in Shimura.
When she visited the site for the first time, it was very noisy, there was a big street with a lot of cars, high buildings etc..and felt naturally to look up, towards the sky. So she decided to create a building where people naturally look up, in order to breathe and refresh.

A rainbow-like stack of 12 colored layers, peeking out from the facade to welcome visitors. Reflected onto the white surfaces, these colors leave a faint trace over it, creating a warm, gentle feeling. At night, the colored layers are faintly illuminated. The illumination varies according to the season and time of day, conjuring up myriad landscapes.

Upon entering the building, three elliptical skylights bathe the interior in a soft light. Visitors spontaneously look up to see a cut-out piece of the sky that invites them to gaze languidly at it. The open sky and sensation of openness prompts you to take deep breaths, refreshing your body from within. The ceiling is adorned with dandelion puff motifs that seem to float and drift through the air.

emmanuelle moureaux
Architect, Artist, Designer
Born in France. Living in Tokyo since 1996. Established emmanuelle moureaux architecture + design. Using colors as her signature, her works extend to a number of projects, including architectural design for Sugamo Shinkin Bank, space design for ABC Cooking Studio, art installations for UNIQLO and ISSEY MIYAKE, "100 colors" art installation series, and "Forest of Numbers" at The National Art Center, Tokyo. Associate professor at Tohoku University of Art and Design.

2020 ARCHITIZER A+AWARDS Jury Winner (US) Forest of Numbers
2020 CS DESIGN AWARD Nakagawa Chemical Prize (Japan) colorscape
2017 Aesthetica Art Prize Shortlisted & People's Choice Award (UK) I am here
2017 ARCHITIZER A+AWARDS Finalist (US) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Nakaaoki Branch
2017 International Design Awards Honorable Mention (US) kindergarten creche ropponmatsu
2016 American Architecture Prize Bronze (US) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Nakaaoki Branch
2016 International Design Awards Honorable Mention (US) Forest of Numbers
2015 International Design Awards Honorable Mention (US) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Nakaaoki Branch
2015 arcVision Prize – Women and Architecture (Italy) Finalist
2015 PUBLIC SPACE DESIGN AWARD Grand Prize (Japan) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Ekoda Branch
2015 PUBLIC SPACE DESIGN AWARD Category Award (Japan) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Nakaaoki Branch
2014 DEDALO MINOSSE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE Under 40 (Italy) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Branches
2014 International Design Awards Silver (US) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Ekoda Branch
2014 International Design Awards Honorable Mention (US) mille-feuille
2014 KAWAII DESIGN AWARD 1st Prize (Japan) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Branches
2013 ICONIC AWARDS Architecture Best of Best (Germany) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Branches
2013 ARCHITIZER A+AWARDS Popular Choice Winner (US) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Shimura Branch
2012 International Architecture Awards (US) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Shimura Branch
2012 International Design Awards Gold (US) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Shimura Branch
2011 MAINICHI Design Award Finalist (Japan)
2011 Design for Asia Silver Award (Hong-Kong) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Shimura Branch
2011 Design for Asia Silver Award (Hong-Kong) eda
2011 Perspective Awards Architecture (Hong-Kong) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Shimura Branch
2011 SBID International Design Awards Finalist (UK) Sugamo Shinkin Bank Shimura Branch
2011 AZ Awards Finalist (Canada) eda
2011 International Architecture Awards (US) Sugamo Shinkin Bank