Rolex Nakatsu Building

Following the Rolex Toyocho Building in Tokyo, Rolex Nakatsu Building is Rolex’s second office building in Japan, located along a highway in northern Osaka. The composition of the building was studied with consideration to the particular needs of the watch repair trade. In a similar language to that of the Toyocho Building, the Nakatsu Building uses red travertine cladding at the entrance as a marking element. The typical floors are enclosed by glass curtain wall with white ceramic frit, which creates a randomized pattern of circles and stripes. This pattern also effectively filters views of the neighboring streets. The tall cafeteria space on the top floor appears to float above the rectangular volume below, yielding panoramic views of the city and offering a comfortable space to relax.

Location: Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Completion Date: 2009
Building Type: Office
Structural System: Steel
Number of Floors: 1 Basement + 7 Stories
Site Area: 784.51m²
Building Area: 667.52m²
Total Floor Area: 4,863.75m²
Structural Engineer: Structural Design Office OAK
Mechanical / Electrical Engineer: P.T. Morimura and Associates
■ URL
http://www.rolex.com/
■ Publication
Shinkenchiku:2009.10