“Reimagining Materials” Through 100 Upcycled Art Objects
A Circular Display Strategy That Turns Interior Samples into Creative Expression
｜Semba Co., Ltd. Headquarters Office｜
In many offices, old interior material samples—once essential to design projects—end up forgotten on shelves, eventually discarded. But what if each sample were given a second life through creativity? During the renovation of Semba’s headquarters, the brief called for a sustainable yet imaginative shelf display. INCROCCE proposed a bold concept: transforming over 100 interior samples into upcycled art objects that inspire employees and communicate a new way of thinking about materials.
Property Overview
Name｜Semba Co., Ltd. Headquarters Office
Location｜Minato-ku, Tokyo
Client｜Semba Co., Ltd. (Ethical Design Division)
Design｜INCROCCE Co., Ltd.
Display｜INCROCCE Co., Ltd.
Scope｜Planning, production, and installation of upcycled display objects
Installation Area｜Wall-length shelving in the office workspace
Display Format｜Roughly 100 shelf units featuring individual upcycled art pieces
Completion｜2022
Property Details and Spatial Concept
The central renovation concept was “Circularity and Creativity.”
Materials used daily within the company—fabric, tile, wood, even wiring components—were reimagined as the centerpiece of an office display that embodied the values of sustainability and discovery. The goal was to express the aesthetics of reuse while inviting viewers to rediscover the potential of familiar materials.
Interior Design Challenges
To creatively repurpose archived samples of fabric, wood, tiles, and electrical parts
To move beyond mere storage or display, and instead produce thought-provoking “objects”
To maintain a high level of aesthetic and spatial integration while communicating a sustainability message
Our Proposal
We classified 100 individual objects into four themed categories, each offering a unique interpretation of the upcycling concept:
LIFESTYLE｜Miniature vignettes representing everyday life, made from playful combinations of leftover material
ANIMAL｜Whimsical representations of animals like fish, giraffes, and cats, constructed with wood and fabric
ART｜Abstract pieces made from electric wire, metal fittings, and glass fragments
ELECTRIC｜Futuristic forms created from disassembled mice, circuit boards, and data cables
Installation and Technical Execution
Materials Used｜Fabric swatches, flooring, mosaic tiles, lighting components, wiring, scrap wood, and more
Production Process｜Each theme was hand-assembled in-house, categorized and curated for visual balance
Display Format｜The shelving wall was designed as an “Upcycle Museum,” complete with object groupings and description labels
Results and Impact
Staff members commented that “there’s always something new to notice,” and “it’s amazing how waste becomes art.”
Internally, the display gained recognition as a flagship project by the Ethical Design Division, and even attracted external visitors interested in viewing the installation.
The success of this initiative sparked interest in replicating the idea across other facilities, establishing it as a scalable model of circular office branding.
Creating immersive spaces that merge “brand identity × drawing power” — why not start with us?
At INCROCCE, we bring out the unique character of each space using authentic materials and upcycled elements. From commercial facilities to offices and public venues, we specialize in crafting immersive spatial experiences. If you're considering a similar approach to spatial branding, we’d be delighted to discuss your project.