Jingu Studio in Shibuya 

FENIX^® creates harmony in the Japanese industrial-styled studio designed by Yuko Numata, where form, function and beauty elegantly coexist.

In the very heart of Shibuya, Tokyo, stepping off the main avenue of Jingu and into a side street, the hum of cars and the bustling thoroughfare fade away. Passersby notice the fruits of old garden trees and the vibrant colours of small birds. Villa Serena emerges. The building was designed by Junzō Sakakura, a leading figure of modernist architecture who once worked at Le Corbusier’s atelier. Painted in a yellow hue reflective of its half-century-old architecture, a few steps bring to Jingu Studio.

Designed by the architect Yuko Numata, Jingu Studio is both a studio and home, shared by an architect and a casting director couple. For these two, whose work and personal lives often blur, it was essential to create a space that embraced this ambiguity while also allowing for moments of immersion in their respective worlds. FENIX surfaces, applied in the kitchen and bathroom design, contributes to define a deep sense of harmony among the fluid space. 

“I was immediately drawn to both the surrounding environment and the architecture of Villa Serena. My intention was to extend this compelling atmosphere into the living space, creating a home that feels like a natural continuation of a walk through the neighbourhood”, says Numata. 

To balance the rigidity of a grid-like structure with exposed beams, she introduced a curved wall, without corridors or doors, creating an organic sequence of spaces. The studio is a continuous loop a one-room circular layout with strategically placed openings at the end of the curves that offer glimpses of surrounding trees and the yellow hues of the shared patio. 

“The building features a distinctive use of yellow, and in the early morning, the golden sunlight reflects off the yellow exterior walls, bathing the entire room in a warm, yellow glow. The kitchen is positioned so that a glimpse of this yellow common area comes into view, and in that light, FENIX Verde Comodoro proved to be a perfect match.” Referring to the innovative materials featured in the kitchen countertop, sink and the wall-mounted storage, Numata continues, “against the strong yellow light, its matt look avoids excessive reflection, and its muted green tone harmonises beautifully with the greenery visible through the windows”. 

Applied also to the bathroom vanity top and sink, FENIX comfort-looking features harmonise contrasts. “I paired FENIX with materials rich in texture. For example, the wash area’s floor and walls show pine ash tiles, creating a handcrafted surface variation. All wood elements are finished using kakishibu, a traditional Japanese persimmon tannin dye. The raw concrete columns and beams provide a structural framework. At the centre of it all, the quiet but present mass of FENIX bridges these contrasting elements, creating a cohesive and harmonious whole”.