Creating Lightness and Openness Through Greenery in a Corporate Cafeteria

In a corporate setting, the office cafeteria is more than just a place for meals—it serves as a vital hub for employee interaction and communication. However, many corporate cafeterias tend to feel sterile, uniform, and impersonal, leading to shorter dwell times and underutilized social potential. Drawing on our extensive experience designing commercial and office spaces, INCROCCE has helped transform numerous projects facing similar challenges by introducing comfort, character, and a sense of place. This project was no exception: our goal was to enhance the cafeteria’s environment through a strategic greenery plan that would foster openness and relaxation.

Property Overview

Name｜Office Cafeteria
Location｜Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Client｜Semba Co., Ltd.
Design｜Semba Co., Ltd.
Display｜INCROCCE Co., Ltd.
Scope｜Planning, production, and installation of cafeteria greenery
Installation Area｜Cafeteria zone in office common area
Display Format｜Indoor plant installation for office cafeteria
Completion｜2025

Property Details and Spatial Concept

This project involved a newly built cafeteria space in an office building in Osaka. While the space itself had already been completed with a sleek and minimal design, the objective was to introduce natural greenery to create a sense of openness and comfort. The addition of plant life aimed to provide both visual refreshment and a soothing natural presence, complementing the clean lines of the office environment without overpowering it.

Interior Design Challenges

The key design challenge was to create a “light and airy” greenery layout that didn’t feel overly dense or obstructive. Rather than a uniform green palette, the layout needed to offer visual depth and dimensional variation. We also sought to avoid a common pitfall in greenery design—monotony—where identical plants are used repetitively, resulting in lifeless and purely ornamental installations.

Our Proposal

INCROCCE approached the greenery plan with the ethos of the National Trust in mind, aiming to recreate the natural character of a forest ecosystem in its raw, unembellished form. Our goal was to avoid decorative excess and instead highlight the innate beauty of nature. Starting from an image board provided by the client, we proposed specific plant types and sizes suited to the site’s light conditions and spatial flow. This approach emphasized authenticity and environmental harmony over visual novelty.

Installation and Technical Execution

The final arrangement achieved a careful balance—preserving visual openness while introducing spatial depth. Artificial greenery was used selectively, with nuanced tonal variations and staggered heights to add richness and cohesion. The planter zones featured a balanced mix of mid-to-low-height foliage, strategically positioned to allow both visibility and flow while maintaining a natural rhythm throughout the space. The overall result was a greenery plan that blended seamlessly into the space as an organic extension of the office environment, subtly elevating its quality and comfort.

Outcome and Client Response

Employees who used the cafeteria responded positively, noting that it no longer felt like a typical office space and instead offered a surprisingly relaxing atmosphere. Many commented that the greenery naturally encouraged conversation, enhancing the cafeteria’s function as a social space. Following this successful implementation, INCROCCE received additional inquiries for similar greenery installations in other office and café spaces.