Nestled within Toranomon Hills, a large-scale business complex with soaring towers in central Tokyo, TOKYO NODE is a new hub of creativity, instigated by urban developer behemoth Mori Building Co. Ltd. to facilitate an exchange of new ideas straddling the realms of business, art, technology, fashion and entertainment. Occupying several floors of the glittering Toranomon Hills Station Tower, built by acclaimed Dutch architecture practice OMA, the venue comes with a café which is perched on the eighth floor, adjacent to the main entrance. Aptly called TOKYO NODE Café, it’s one of the hub’s social spaces where to sit back and mingle over a drink and a bite. The entire eighth floor was designed as the official entrance to TOKYO NODE and its spaces higher up in the tower, on the 45th, 46th and 49th floors.
Originally, the space came with a traditional red carpet to welcome visitors. Designed by architect Jo Nagasaka and his Tokyo-based architecture practice Schemata Architects, the chosen, somewhat raw, aesthetic aims to reflect the venue’s purpose to facilitate change, and as such, offers a striking contrast with the polished design of the soaring tower it sits in. As such, it features an exposed ceiling, revealing a myriad of utility pipes, concrete, and also substrate. Also, given the fact that TOKYO NODE Café is not situated on street level, it’s more designed as a spacious leisurely hangout than a place with high-density seating. Furnishings come in a matching low-key range, comprising a variety of vintage chairs and stools.
The outside terrace, which offers sweeping views of the city and the landmark Tokyo Tower, sees standing tables and low benches, both on wheels, crafted from mesh steel and red bricks, and paired with steel tables. Situated in an adjacent space is a technical lab which supports all of TOKYO NODE’s activities. Here, the aesthetic is more or less the same, but obviously, geared towards work activities, featuring work desks and communal tables. The aforementioned red carpet which was removed, is referenced in elements of the interior design throughout the café and tech lab. The menu at TOKYO NODE Café lists tapas, salads, fried snacks, pasta dishes, meats and seafood dishes, and of course, desserts. As for drinks, the choice is equally elaborate, featuring soft drinks, coffee, organic tea, wines, cocktails and liquors. © superfuture
TOKYO NODE Café
Toranomon Hills Station Tower, 2-6-2 Toranomon, Eighth Floor
Tokyo 105-0001
Telephone +81 3 62061372
Daily 11am-11pm
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