Building with no purpose - Kioi Seido

Kioi-Seido was designed by architect Hiroshi Naito and opened in 2021.
It stands out in the neighbourhood as a 15-meter tall, four-story concrete cube without windows, enveloped by a glass facade and supported by four columns.
What sets this structure apart is that the RINRI Institute of Ethics, the client did not offer any specific purpose or intended use of this building. The functions will be considered according to what has been done, so please design as you like.” That was their request. Naito understood their thoughts and worked on this project to the best of his ability.
From the outside, a staircase leads into the “cube,” consisting of four light-filled floors connected by an elegant staircase.
The ceiling has no lights at all, one of the few lights placed on the first floor was a lantern, probably a work of Isamu Noguchi. Its Japanese design matches this space.
There are basically no windows on the second floor or above, while the exterior walls are covered with glass screens. Therefore, natural light comes in only from the top lights.
The entire space is filled with a sense of materiality and tension, such as the pillars, the concrete ceiling, and the flooring. The walls of the upper floor, the entrance doors, and the sliding doors are all made of solid wood.
The four thick pillars supporting the pilotis on the first floor are reinforced with super-dense reinforcing bars. Reversed beam structure was adopted to make the space look like a concrete box, and those beams are equipped with cables for pre-tensioning.
You can see Naito’s uncompromising detailing such as the handrails made of thin timber or the wood panelling on the interior walls.
Reference Article from: Yasuo Nakamaru
Video Credits from UA-cam: Nagacumatz,
Japan Architecture Tour Vlog / todoroki,
Art & Architecture by Sisi et Koko, ZAITAKUOJISAN6310, eun_fish
Sequence video: @artoftravel.jp