AKIYOSHI BENTO BOX
Kimio and Tomoko Akiyoshi asked KOKO to reimagine a living space to fit the needs of a growing family in their compact Noho Loft. The resulting "Bento Box" design finds unexpected ways to expand their living space vertically, all while capturing the spirit of a modern Tokyo family. Over 700 feet of hidden storage allows for wide airy living spaces that accommodate and showcase the family’s minimalist lifestyle. KOKO’s Bento Box design was featured in several international exhibits and in Taschen’s Interiors Now!, a survey of contemporary interior design.
The unique design of the Bento Box project was featured in an article by Andrea Codrington Lippke in The New York Times. “Using a masterwork of micro-architecture known as the obento as a model, KOKO created a multifunctional space that made use of every little inch of the 1,300-square-foot interior…. (The two children) have sleeping lofts above their closets, and the master bedroom sits on a platform with trap doors on top, where the bedding is stored during the day. With its bleached bamboo floors, white walls and shojilike frosted glass pocket doors, the uncluttered loft is as peaceful as a Japanese teahouse. “It reminds me of my grandmother and making tea,” said Ms. Akiyoshi.”