[INTERVIEW] How SPACEBASE Creates Spaces

Creating a space ultimately means reading how people work and how work gets done. Behind the finished floor plans, finishing materials, and circulation lies a process layered with countless questions and choices. What makes SPACEBASE's work so compelling is that this process comes through with unusual clarity. In this interview, we trace the team structure SPACEBASE works within to complete a single space, and the criteria by which it defines a "good office." SPACEBASE's attitude toward space reveals itself far more clearly in the way the team actually works than in any elaborate explanation. We take a measured look at the process behind completing a single space and the choices embedded within it.

How SPACEBASE Creates Spaces

From Start to Finish on a Single Project

Q. First, we'd love to ask about how the SPACEBASE team is structured. What does the team look like?

SPACEBASE is made up of a Design Team that handles both design and project management, an Estimating Team that produces quotes, a Construction Team responsible for on-site work and management, and an Administration Team that handles construction contracts along with the company's broader management and IT operations. Across the entire process, from a project's start to its completion, all of these teams work closely together.

Q. It's striking that you keep the Construction Team in-house rather than outsourcing it. Is there a particular reason for that?

Approaches vary from one firm to another, and many choose to outsource construction. In terms of cost and resource management, that can be a reasonable choice. But SPACEBASE wanted its design intent to be realized on-site as accurately as possible, and as a result we chose to keep the Construction Team in-house. It was a decision made to tighten the sync between design and construction.

Q. When people think of SPACEBASE, office design for major companies comes to mind first. We're curious about what led you to focus on offices.

In fact, we work steadily on commercial spaces as well, not just offices. That said, SPACEBASE drew attention through office projects after designing workspaces during the COVID period, and since then we've gone on to collaborate with many companies, centered on office design.

SPACEBASE's Perspective on Workspaces

Spaces That Put the Working Person at the Center

Q. At this point, we became curious about how SPACEBASE views the office itself. What role do you think an office should play?

We see an office as more than simply a place where work happens—it's the space where employees spend the most time after their own homes. Because of that, it's as important as a home and isn't a space you can design simply. We believe it should be designed with full consideration for the users' tendencies and the company's way of working, in a direction that raises work efficiency.

Q. Hearing your perspective on offices makes us even more curious about what sets SPACEBASE apart. Compared with other interior studios, what do you think is the biggest distinction of a SPACEBASE office?

The biggest distinction is that a SPACEBASE office lets each company's branding come through intuitively in the space —that is what sets us apart most. It isn't about lavish design for its own sake; we focus on designing so that a company's identity and requirements blend naturally into every corner of the space.

Q. We were also curious about how what you've described actually takes shape in a real space. Could you introduce a project where SPACEBASE's philosophy comes through most clearly, or one that's especially memorable?

Honestly, every project stays with us, but if I had to choose one, the CLO project comes to mind. CLO is a fashion-tech company that runs 3D garment design software and a community platform. Reflecting the company's range—from design and simulation to education and distribution—they wanted an office that could hold both technological innovation and lively exchange among users at once.

We approached the space around the keywords "fashion" and "digital." In particular, since the lounge is a space that welcomes outside visitors, we designed it to feel formal yet not overly heavy, in a bright tone. What stays with me most is the process of carefully considering every single design element so that even during a visitor's brief stay, the message of "a company where fashion meets technology" would come across naturally.

Q. Every company has a different organizational culture and way of working. How do you reflect these differences in the design?

Before design, we put understanding the company first. We grasp management principles, the leadership's tendencies, organizational culture, the age range of employees, and more through research and meetings. The phrase "company research" may sound a bit grand, but in the end you can think of it as the process of fully listening to the client's story. We believe that only by truly understanding a company can you complete a space that fits it.

Q. So a space that fits the company perfectly takes shape. How does the "tailored design" SPACEBASE speaks of come together?

SPACEBASE's tailored design begins with not being afraid to ask questions. Rather than asking at random, we organize a list of questions based on our own manual to understand a company's characteristics more deeply, and we share it. After that, we reflect the client's requests, propose various layouts, and narrow the direction down through discussion together.

Q. How do you strike a balance between design aesthetics and real usability?

Some clients value design more, while others place greater importance on usability. The ideal is a space where the two are in balance, but since each company's circumstances and priorities differ, we try to find the most suitable direction by considering things like headcount-growth plans and organizational culture.

SPACEBASE's Way of Collaborating, the Rhythm of Working Together

A Process Completed Through Sharing and Communication

Q. How does a SPACEBASE project basically flow?

In the early bidding stage, planning design and cost estimation proceed at the same time. Once the contractor is selected, we move into the basic design and construction phases, and after completion we carry out a completion inspection together with the client. Internally, we also hold a completion meeting to organize points to improve.

Q. Several designers must take part in the design process. How does it all come together into a single plan?

The designers assigned to the Design Team each sketch out their own floor plan, then freely share opinions and develop the work. Even within the same team, everyone can transparently share their own point of view, and because it lets us discover unexpected perspectives, we keep this approach.

Q. To align direction within the team and with the client, what kinds of conversations do you have most often?

Among the many factors—seat count, circulation, design, and so on—we ask a lot about what they consider most important. If the early planning aligns with the client's direction, we listen broadly not only to executives but also to the employees who are the actual users, and we reflect those priorities throughout the design. When coordinating opinions within the team, the alignment happens in an atmosphere where everyone freely offers their views and collaborates regardless of rank.

Q. When design, budget, and schedule conflict, what criteria guide your judgment?

It may sound cold, but in the end the criterion is the client. We find the point of agreement based on what the client prioritizes most.

Q. Is there a team culture or way of working that feels distinctly SPACEBASE?

There are ranks, but it's an atmosphere where anyone can freely offer their opinion. On occasions like our "Culture Day," we make good use of a longer lunch break to see an exhibition or go look at finishing materials together. Even for projects we weren't part of, a culture of sharing the site and learning from one another has taken root. In the end, the most important keywords for SPACEBASE are "sharing" and "communication."

Q. What does a "team that works well" mean to SPACEBASE?

The team we consider to work well is a team that communicates smoothly. We believe that when people respect each other's opinions and can talk freely, the results naturally get better too.

The Next Scene SPACEBASE Is Envisioning

Thoughts on a "Good Space"

Q. What does it mean to "create a good space" as SPACEBASE defines it? And finally, if there's a message you'd like to share with readers.

A pretty, lavish space may look good, while a plain but comfortable space might be the best space for someone else. But we believe a good space shouldn't be good for me alone. What I find comfortable could become an inconvenience for someone else. In the end, the best space is one that is efficient and comfortable for everyone who uses it. —that is what we believe.

The good space SPACEBASE speaks of begins not with a special form, but with an understanding directed toward the working person. A space built from that accumulated understanding is completed slowly, within the way it's used.

*Photography and provided by: Editor Ryu Jin