Beyond structure & form
Felissimo wanted to create a new mixed-use facility to engage with the community. The result is a new headquarters designed help revitalise Kobe City's Waterfront
8,548 sqm of mixed-use space across eight storeys
Café, chocolate museum, and photography studios
A contribution to the revitalisation of Kobe City Waterfront
Redefining workspaces & community connections
Based in Kobe, Felissimo is one of Japan’s leading mail order and eCommerce providers for lifestyle products, including clothing, accessories and home decor. They wanted to create a new mixed-use facility to engage with the community. Our design strives to be transparent, approachable and generous.
The result is a new site that looks forward, providing an opportunity to contribute to the revitalisation of the waterfront of this international port city, and again be part of Kobe’s renaissance.
“Our design for Felissimo reflects an organizational change, a business model change, and a physical change.”
Designing for flexibility and growth
Stage Felissimo’s design focuses on creating a highly adaptable and flexible workspace that can respond to the dynamic nature of modern work.
We incorporated open-plan layouts and modular furniture to allow spaces to be reconfigured easily — flexibility that not only fosters collaboration but also supports the company’s innovative approach to teamwork. The ‘Platfarm’ is a dedicated floor that encourages external collaborators such as artists and designers to work alongside Felissimo employees in a cross-disciplinary environment. The design allows employees to scale their teams up or down as needed, optimizing the space for different activities.
The integration of collaborative spaces with amenities ensures that both small teams and large groups can work together efficiently. This workspace transformation supports Felissimo’s organisational changes that help the company stay nimble in a competitive market.
A positive impact on local communities
The building’s design is carefully crafted to reflect the company’s values of transparency, approachability, and generosity, mirroring its brand ethos. Using a material palette of concrete, metal, and glass, the structure speaks to timelessness in a modern age. The transparent window-wall facade allows for panoramic views of the mountains to the north and the harbour to the south, emphasising the balance between the natural beauty of Kobe and Felissimo’s ambition for innovation.
The second-floor pedestrian deck integrates the surrounding city and its waterfront, linking Stage Felissimo to the aquarium and other key public spaces. This seamless connection to the city is an essential part of Felissimo’s vision: to serve its employees and clients while also contributing to the local community.
Felissimo’s commitment to social responsibility is evident in its initiatives to support local communities, and this headquarters embodies that purpose while providing a space that is both creative and community-driven.
A new vision for public and private
Stage Felissimo is more than just a workplace—it’s a transformative space for public and private realms.
The first two floors are dedicated to public-facing facilities, including a café, a chocolate museum, photography studios, and a winery. This provides a platform for the public access to creative experiences. The upper floors are dedicated to the Felissimo workforce, featuring versatile office spaces, collaboration areas, and VIP lounges that are designed to inspire productivity and creativity.
The outdoor terrace with sweeping views of the harbour is for relaxation and informal meetings. The design also fosters an urban connection through the elevated pedestrian deck that links the building to nearby sites. It’s a perfect blend of innovation, community engagement, and urban revitalisation.
