In a Tokyo high-rise, storage becomes architecture. The 2,000-square-foot Akasaka Morandi I apartment, a collaboration between APOLLO Architects & Associates and Molteni designer Nicola Gallizia, transforms what typically recedes into background – cabinetry and storage systems – into the defining structural element of the space. Storage modules are arguably the essence of the Molteni brand, and here they become something more profound – the “core” of the architectural experience itself.
What makes this intervention particularly successful is how the storage system functions simultaneously as exhibition space, room divider, and circulation guide. When guests enter the family room, they encounter what the designers describe as theatrical visual presentation. The cabinetry becoming both gallery wall and spatial delineator. The careful materiality reinforces this duality – natural oak doors create a warm canvas for display, while dark oak ceiling panels establish a powerful contrast that frames the entire composition.
The sequence of movement alongside these modules creates a narrative progression from public to private, directing the guests’ journey through the space. This choreography of movement resonates with traditional Japanese architectural elements – particularly the delicate transitions created by shoji screens and paper dividers. The storage wall thus becomes a cultural bridge, revealing unexpected commonalities between Italian design sensibilities and Japanese spatial concepts.
Material choices further accentuate these sensibilities. Brass accents highlight art pieces and lighting fixtures against the restrained wood palette, while wet areas feature silver travertine and Ceppo stone-patterned ceramic tiles. These materials bring a distinctly Italian sense of controlled luxury to the space without overwhelming its essential tranquility. Where previous generations may have disguised storage as architecture, this approach embraces its functionality while simultaneously elevating it.
Photography by Masao Nishikawa.