ABOUT

Key Operation Inc. / Architects  is an architectural practice directed by Akira Koyama based in Tokyo, Japan.

Akira studied architecture at the Tokyo Metropolitan University and also completed the MArch at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL with distinction and MSc at Tokyo Institute of Technology. He worked in UK at various architectural practices including David Chipperfield Architects. He was also a shop development director at Zara Japan Corporation. Akira is a registered architect both in UK and in Japan and he is a member of Royal Institute of British Architects.

After setting up KOP in 2005, Akira has directed more than 180 retail store projects, within the last 19 years, as a project manager, for the foreign brands such as ZARA, Bershka, ZARA Home, Stradivarius, Berluti, Levi’s, Calvin Klein, Charles & Keith and Starbucks.

Parallel to those commercial projects, we also started working on various type of projects such as flat renovations, detached houses, villas, apartment complex, offices, commercial tenant buildings, cinemas, complex buildings and cemeteries. Our aim is to find the simplest and the most innovative space composition, construction method or other architectural technique that does tackle the different problems and give a coherent, clever, logical solution. In order to do so, we investigate and analyse the customer’ s requirements, observe the urban context, understand the social interactions, acknowledge local history, culture, regulations and natural environment, study building materials and techniques. We also think that the economic conditions, which we learned from the commercial projects, are also very important for the architecture as they are blood cells to create architecture and also to keep on running the architecture. We commit ourselves to provide the design ideas and concepts based on the economic aspects of the architecture as we believe that the architecture can improve the economy of the city, embracing the culture, and solve the social problems.

COMPANY

Establishment
March 1998
Incorporation
September 2005
Capital
1,000,000 Yen
Address
4F Doors Bldg. 3-19-10 Takaban, Meguro-ku, Tokyo152-0004, JAPAN
Contact
T 03-5724-0061 F 03-5724-0062
Representative
Akira Koyama
Registers
First Degree Architectural Practice License 51898
First Degree Architect License 321482 Akira Koyama
UK Registered Architect 065810C
Chartered Member of Royal Institute of British Architects 12031463
Memberof Tokyo Society of Architects & Building Engineers 2060452
Official Member of Japan Institute of Architects 2300307
Bank
SMBC Gakugeidaigku Eikimae Branch
Scope of Work
Architectural design,landscape design, civil engineering, structural design, interior design ,project management, urban planning, industrial and product design, graphic design, web design, furniture design and related consulting.

ACCESSMAP

PROFILES

Akira Koyama

Representative Director

Dip MArch Msc ARB RIBA JIA

Biography

1970
Born In Tokyo, Japan
1994
Tokyo Metropolitan University, Diploma Degree (Kobayashi Studio)
1996
The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, Master of Architecture Degree with Distinction
1998
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Master of Science Degree (Sakamoto Studio)
1998
atelier ko
1998
Zara Japan Corp.
1998-2001
Studio E Architects
2001
ARB(Architects Registeration Board) Registered
2002-2003
David Chipperfield Architects
2002
Chartered Member of Royal Institute of British Architects
2003-2005
Zara Japan Corp. Shop Development Director
2005
atelier ko architects ltd.
2006
KEY OPERATION INC.

Awards

2023
“ZOOM TOGOSHI GINZA” has received Good Design Award 2023
2023
“Ikebukuro Terrace Building” has received Good Design Award 2023
2023
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received German Design Awards 2024 Winner
2023
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received ICONIC AWARDS 2023 Winner
2023
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received Kukan Design Award 2023 ShortList
2023
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received DFA Design for Asia Awards 2023 Merit Award
2023
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received DNA PARIS DESIGN AWARDS 2023 Winner
2023
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received iF DESIGN AWARD 2023 Winner
2023
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received International Property Awards Asia Pacific 2023 Winner
2022
“Sakuragicho Residence” has London International 2022 Official Selection
2022
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received German Design Award 2023 Nominee
2022
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received Kukan Design Award 2022 ShortList
2022
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received Good Design Award 2022
2022
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received Iconic Awards 2022 Winner
2022
“Sakuragicho Residence” has received Architizer A+Awards 2022 Finalist
2022
Firm of the Year Best of Asia for Architizer A+ Awards 2022 Winner
2022
“Kannai Blade Residence” has received German Design Awards 2022 Nominee
2022
“Kannai Blade Residence” has received Architecture MasterPrize 2022 Honorable Mention
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received Frame Award Shortlisted
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received TAAF Award Selection
2021
“Kannai Blade Residence” has received Archello BEST OF 2021
2021
Luxury Awards 2021 Winner
2021
“Kannai Blade Residence” has received LICC Selection
2021
“Kannai Blade Residence” has received Asia Pacific Property Awards 2021 Five Star
2021
“Kannai Blade Residence” has received BluePrint Awards 2021 Shortlisted
2021
“Kannai Blade Residence” has received Iconic Awards 2021 Winner
2021
“Kannai Blade Residence” has received Good Design Award 2021
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received ArchitectureMasterPrize 2021 Honorable Mention
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received A+ Awards 2021 a finalist of category “Apartment”
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received Sky Design Awards Shortlisted
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received Good Design Award 2021
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received German Design Award 2021 Nominee
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received Iconic Awards 2021 Selection Winner
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received Archello BEST OF 2020
2021
“Fudomae Voids” has received Asia Pacific Property Awards 2021 Five Star
2020
“Jingumae 4chome Project” has received AR Future Project Awards 2021 Winner
2020
ZOOM TOGOSHI GINZA German Design Awards 2020 WINNER
2019
Kanda Terrace Sky Design Awards 2019 Shortlist
2019
ZOOM TOGOSHI GINZA, International Property Awards Asia Pacific 2019-2020 Residential Development
2019
ZOOM TOGOSHI GINZA, International Property Awards Asia Pacific 2019-2020 Architecture Multiple Residence
2019
Kanda Terrace, International Property Awards Asia Pacific 2019-2020 Mixed-use Architecture
2018
Kanda Terrace, the World Architecture Festival (finalist)
2018
Kanda Terrace, German Design Award 2019 Special Mention
2018
Kanda Terrace, 2018 Architecture MasterPrize Commercial Architecture
2018
Kanda Terrace, Blueprint Awards 2018-Commended
2018
Kanda Terrace, Good Design Award 2018
2018
Kanda Terrace, A+ Awards2018 +Facades People’s Choice
2018
Kanda Terrace, Iconic Awards 2018 Best of Best
2018
Kanda Terrace, JCD Design Award 2018 Best 100
2018
Kanda Terrace, AZ Awards of Merit
2018
New York Corner 161, International Property Awards Asia Pacific 2015-2016
2017
New York Corner 161; New York Corner 161, Good Design Award
2016
Inagawa Cemetery Warehouse; Inagawa Cemetery Warehouse, Good Design Award
2015
Terrace Building & Hill Top Building, Good Design Award
2015
Komachi Building, International Property Awards Asia Pacific 2015-2016
2014
Komachi Building, Good Design Award
2012
yotsuya tenera, RIBA International Awards 2012
2012
yotsuya tenera, ARCHITIZER A+Awards 2013
2012
yotsuya tenera, International Property Awards Asia Pacific 2012-2013
2011
yotsuya tenera, Good Design Award
2011
ReNOA motosumiyoshi, Good Design Award
2010
Flat Floating Boxes, Good Design Award
2003
Building Design Young Architects of the Year Awards Runners Up
2000
Nagoya Desing DO Design Competition short listed
1998
Prize in WACOA Interior Idea Competition
1997
Prize in Central Glass Design Competition, Millennium Tower
1997
1st Prize in Hyogo Harima Housing Competition, Forest Housing
1996
1st Prize in RIBA Student Competition, Print Room for the Future
1995
Hornerable Prize in Living Design Competition, House for Important Person
1995
Tominaga Prize in SxL Design Competition, House for Kandinsky