This Rolex Building was made for the maintenance and after service of Rolex products and for the technical training of its employees. The grave and graceful design of its exterior and interior thoroughly manifests the owner's image of superior quality.

It is our understanding that the concepts of this design are: 1) cohabitation with the environment, 2) emphasis on people's comfort and aspiration, and 3) harmony with history and tradition. We highly appreciate that these concepts are admirably and beautifully reflected and expressed in the design.

The site is located close to the Fukagawa Fudoson Temple, facing the Fukagawa Park. With these site conditions in mind, the lower part of the exterior design expresses dignity by the usage of dark color stones, while the upper part gives bright and light impression by the interlocked curtain walls which provide wide view and emphasize its own existence, strongly but naturally.

As for the interior design, on the north facade there exist atriums, or internal courtyards, on each two floors which guarantee ample natural lighting and gorgeous view on the park. The plan of each floor is quite simple and lucid. The atrium is centered within the work space, and therefore it provides additional comfort and aspiration to the people. Many other details show the designer's refined sensitivity and techniques, including the method of capturing nature. The high quality of the design in general is quite impressive.
Since precision apparatuses are handled in the work space, they have to be dealt with in a clean environment. And, several imported interior finish materials are used. It shows the designer's confidence in the function and performance of such materials. This issue is interesting as it is currently a very hot topic.

The process of the designer's contemplation, quite Japanese with full understanding of the Japanese cultural and physical environments, moved us very much. We would naturally assume that his previous 6-year graduate studies in Japan (1974-1980) has beautifully fruited in this project.

Architectural critique by: Mr. Toshio Tanabe, Award Jurist