FabCafe Nagoya will open in the fall of 2020! Bridging the gap between manufacturing and global creativity

The FabCafe Global net will be expanding into their 4th location in Japan to Nagoya, between Tokyo and Osaka. Loftwork Inc. (based in Shibuya, Tokyo), which operates FabCafe in Tokyo, Taipei, Kyoto and Hong Kong, will operate FabCafe Nagoya alongside with OKB Research Institute, Ltd., (based in Ogaki, Gifu) of Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank Ltd. FabCafe Nagoya will be located in the just developed “Central Park” of Nagoya, Hisaya-odori Park. Hisaya-odori Park, with it’s lush green spaces, is expected to be a major landmark for Nagoya City.

Nagoya is in the heart of the Tokai area which is one of the world’s leading manufacturing regions, especially in the automotive industry. FabCafe Nagoya aims to serve as a bridge between the local manufacturing industry, which prides itself on its outstanding technology and productivity, and creative industries, to create new value through co-creation.

FabCafe was established in 2012 in Shibuya, Tokyo, and has now expanded to 11 locations in 8 countries. As a place to draw out people’s creativity, we wanted to create a place where anyone could create things freely. By setting up laser cutters, 3D printers and other tools in the cafe, we encourage interaction within the place and hope to build a community among the people who gather there. We have a wide range of events with various topics covered from food, art, biotechnology, AI, to education, and more. We are also actively involved in diverse partnerships with outside organizations and companies.

Using the power of creativity to boost the future of Japan’s manufacturing industry

Connected with both local and global creative communities, FabCafe has been involved in numerous projects. With the new opening of FabCafe Nagoya, we aim to connect with designers, engineers, and technicians based in the Tokai area. With this new community of artists, diverse companies, municipalities, and educational institutions, we are hoping to strengthen the connection between multiple organizations to create more precedents of “from Nagoya” projects with the local community. 

Prior to the opening, we held an online event called “Local Fab, Global Fab vol.1 – Open Source and Regional Manufacturing Connected by Open Source.” There will also be a variety of events held in the next few months following similar themes. The event schedules will be announced via our website and social media. We plan to showcase recent projects from MTRL, a material innovation platform for materials and creators so please look forward to our new space for the manufacturing industry and creativity to meet!

Hida’s Hardwood x SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE designs the space to create a sense of unity with the park

FabCafe Nagoya’s interior design was designed by Makoto Tanijiri and Ai Yoshida from SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE who have won numerous design and architecture awards in Japan and abroad. The interior of the cafe facing the park uses hardwood from Hida, Gifu abundantly and was designed to unite the overall image of the building with the park. The direction for the wood coordination and furniture making was managed by Hidakuma, Inc., a company which works towards rebuilding a sustainable relationship between the forests of Japan and people. 

“One of the highlights of the space is the ceiling. The ceiling utilizes the “ears” of the hardwood slabs, which are usually cut down in the process of lumbering and furniture making. Even in the counters and sofa benches, we wanted to value the ingenuity in the furniture so we utilized uneven wooden pieces that are often undervalued as they are considered the “con” of hardwoods.” -Hidakuma Inc. (President, Kotaro Iwaoka)

FabCafe Nagoya Interior Image

• Store Name : FabCafe Nagoya
• Location: Marunouchi 3-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi (Hisaya-odori Park)
• Floor space: 283㎡
• Scheduled opening date: Fall 2020
• Seating capacity: 100 seats
• Access : 3 minutes from Hisaya-odori Station (by the Nagoya City Subway)
• Website：http://www.fabcafe.com/jp/nagoya/
• Contact for Inquiries：info.nagoya@fabcafe.com

SNS

• Facebookページ：https://www.facebook.com/fabcafenagoya/
• Twitter：https://twitter.com/FabCafe_Nagoya
• instagram：https://www.instagram.com/fabcafe_nagoya/

About OKB Research Institute Inc.

OKB Research Institute, Inc. is a group company of Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank, a regional bank in Gifu, Japan. They conduct research and consulting on their local industry, economy, lifestyle and culture and  aim to promote the development of local enterprise as well as the improvement of the life and culture of the people in the region.
URL：https://www.okb-kri.jp/

About FabCafe

Tokyo, Kyoto, Hida, Taipei, Bangkok, Barcelona, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Singapore, Monterrey. FabCafe is a creator’s cafe network, extending 11 locations around the world. At the FabCafes, unique creators gather, meet, pit their talents against each other, and give presentations on their ideas and creations every day. Since the beginning, the FabCafe Global Network has supported the birth of over 15,000 ideas by holding a various kind of creative workshops and events, all while also offering delicious coffee and comfortable spaces to relax.
URL：http://www.fabcafe.com/en/

About MTRL

MTRL is a global platform that supports co-creation by creators and the manufacturers of various materials, giving birth to innovation. We work with a range of materials, from common materials such as wood, metal, and cloth, to traditional craft materials and cutting-edge technology fitted with sensors and modules.
URL：https://mtrl.com/en/

About Loftwork

Loftwork is a creativity agency that designs Web content, communication, space, etc. through open collaboration. Loftwork includes FabCafe, a digital manufacturing café that develops globally, a creative lounge “MTRL (Material)” which facing materials to connect them to creators, an award platform “AWRD (Award)” to promote co-creation with creators, and the platform “OpenCU” to accelerate creative learning. By collaborating with the creator community around the world, we offer a wide range of creative services.
URL：https://loftwork.com/en/