DESIGN /
ARCHITECTURE
May 7, 2025
The new luxury presented by THE GRANDUO MINAMIAOYAMA.
THE GRANDUO
Luxury isn't solely about being surrounded by expensive things. In urban life, isn't the true luxury the ability to choose the quality of your own time? From ready-made to bespoke. High-end car manufacturers are increasingly emphasizing bespoke because a unique product leads to a special experience. 'THE GRANDUO MINAMIAOYAMA' is an urban rental residence designed with this modern sense of luxury.
Text by AOYAMA Tsuzumi | Photographs by THE GRANDUO (FaithNetwork)
Located in Minamiaoyama 1-chome, Tokyo, a two-minute walk from Nogizaka Station on the Chiyoda Line. Tucked away from Gaien Higashi-dori, a nine-story building with just eight units stands quietly, offering a high degree of privacy. The design is by Tatsuya Ogawa of '16Architects,' the architectural firm behind projects like The Magarigawa Club. The facade, a fusion of concrete, greenery, and metal, evokes a sense of resonance with nature within an urban structure.
'What does it mean to live in a city? Pondering this question, I aimed to create a home where a sensory luxury quietly breathes,' says Ogawa. His experience in crafting luxurious spaces for affluent clients both domestically and internationally has been brought to bear in this property.
The most distinctive feature of 'THE GRANDUO MINAMIAOYAMA' is its configuration of only one unit per floor. The private elevator access directly to the residence alleviates the stresses of communal living while enhancing security. The ability to choose 'not to encounter anyone' in daily life is a significant value in urban living.
The Richness of Occupying an Entire Floor
The residential areas range from approximately 140 square meters on floors 2-7, 113 square meters on the 8th floor, and the top 9th floor features an 86-square-meter 1LDK with a private sauna and terrace. Each unit is uniquely designed, with meticulous attention paid not only to the floor plan but also to spatial transitions and sightlines.
Many rental apartments prioritize spatial efficiency over design, rarely offering custom designs for each unit. THE GRANDUO challenges this convention, deliberately creating a property with a unique commitment to detail. Jiro Hachiya, representative of Face Network, which develops the THE GRANDUO series, states:
'Even at this scale, we don't typically do a one-unit, one-design approach. But I believe there's a luxury in feeling that this is truly 'a space for me.'
7th Floor Living Room. The south-facing room is bathed in bright sunlight.
Terrace with Sauna, a Rare Amenity in Residences
The top-floor unit boasts a private sauna and a spacious terrace. The luxury of achieving a state of 'well-being' at home, right in the heart of the city. This unique, personal experience is precisely what is sought after in contemporary living.
After gently warming the body, gazing at the Tokyo sky and taking deep breaths while feeling the fresh air. This quiet experience, akin to an internal dialogue, transcends mere refreshment.
The terrace is a verdant balcony with a depth of over two meters. The flooring and plant selection are carefully curated, offering a comfortable space to stand barefoot and enjoy the seasonal breezes and scents.
9th Floor. The glass doors opening onto the terrace are exceptionally wide, creating a seamless fusion of indoor and outdoor spaces. The terrace roof features wooden elements, casting dappled sunlight as if in a forest. The door to the sauna is visible in the back of the upper photo. The luxury of outdoor bathing on your own terrace.
During the day, enjoy reading with a cup of coffee; at night, quietly sip a drink while admiring the Tokyo cityscape. Having a place for such private, tranquil moments within a rental property is a rare value. The significance of this special design, symbolized by the spacious rooftop terrace, within a city rental is considerable.
The Philosophy of 'FULNESS' Supporting Invisible Comfort
The keyword 'FULNESS' championed by the THE GRANDUO series is a concept that signifies a deep sense of satisfaction, going beyond mere comfort. At 'THE GRANDUO MINAMIAOYAMA,' this philosophy extends to the quality of invisible elements such as air, water, and light.
For air quality, Phiten's Metatech technology is employed. Applying a Metatech coating to the walls, said to enhance relaxation, is a unique initiative to realize a restorative space in the home, similar to those used by professional athletes for conditioning.
Water is purified throughout the building by the 'Yoshimizu Kobo' system, ensuring that not only drinking water but also shower and facial water maintain a skin-friendly quality. Ensuring safety and quality in all aspects of daily life reliably reduces minor daily stresses.
Furthermore, circadian rhythm-based lighting control automatically adjusts indoor lighting according to the time of day and natural light. As the intensity and color temperature change between morning and evening, you will unconsciously feel your mind and body aligning with the natural rhythm.
View from the 8th-floor living room towards the dining area. The walls are treated with Metatech coating to purify the air, and the lighting is controlled by IoT to match the family's daily rhythm. Gentle, purified water flows from the faucets.
Technology is utilized to guide you naturally towards a 'comfortable state' in all aspects of air, water, and light. Invisible comfort is the essence of the 'FULNESS' philosophy.
Spaces Divided by Sensation
The sense of luxury in the spatial design of 'THE GRANDUO MINAMIAOYAMA' is achieved through meticulous and delicate design that heightens sensory perception.
Between the living and dining areas, a three-tiered staircase spans the full width of the space.
The division of space is marked by steps rather than walls or doors, naturally creating shifts in sightlines and activities. While a sense of presence connects the areas, each person can enjoy their own time. This is a 'design of distance' suitable for urban living.
The division of space is marked by steps rather than walls or doors, naturally creating shifts in sightlines and activities. While a sense of presence connects the areas, each person can enjoy their own time. This is a 'design of distance' suitable for urban living.
'We've created the kitchen and dining table as a continuous horizontal plane, but naturally, the countertop heights differ between the standing-height kitchen and the seated dining table. So, we lowered the floor level slightly on the kitchen side to align the countertop heights,'
explains Ogawa of 16Architects. Adjusting the height creates a continuous rhythm throughout the space, smoothly integrating function and form. This approach, balancing aesthetics and usability, embodies the quiet luxury of 'THE GRANDUO MINAMIAOYAMA.'
View from the 7th-floor dining area towards the living room. A deliberate step is incorporated between the dining and living areas. This is a skillful technique for visually demarcating the spaces.
A subtle gradation is also applied to the materials of the walls, floors, and ceilings. The exposed concrete, seemingly inorganic at first glance, reveals delicate textures when light hits it. Warm wooden elements are also thoughtfully placed, creating a calming atmosphere.
At a special preview event for the media, interior items selected by The Conran Shop were displayed, proposing a lifestyle vividly imagined within the luxurious space. (Top Photo) Leather sofa SEVEN SALOTTI NAVIGLIO 246 N RUBINO NO3 ¥1,760,000, Coffee table Ethnicraft Tripod coffee table (reference item), Chair Herman Miller Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair (reference item), Floor lamp TALIESIN TM 2 WALNUT ¥440,000, Cushions etc. (reference items) (The Conran Shop Shinjuku Store 03-5322-6600) Other miscellaneous items all reference items (NOMAD 03-6407-1073) (Bottom Photo) Dining chair GUBI VIOLIN DINING CHAIR ¥231,000/chair, Vase etc. (reference items) (The Conran Shop Shinjuku Store) Other miscellaneous items all reference items (NOMAD)
All units are equipped with Wi-Fi supporting smart appliances, underfloor heating, a system kitchen with a disposer, and an oven range, achieving a high-dimensional fusion of practicality and aesthetics in daily living.
It is precisely this accumulation of unique sensibilities, built upon a solid foundation of 'standard' amenities, that truly deserves to be called genuine luxury.
A New Luxury That Embraces You
What is luxury? Perhaps it is not about possessing many things, but about being able to select what is comfortable for oneself and quietly distance oneself from the unnecessary.
'THE GRANDUO MINAMIAOYAMA' proposes precisely this way of choosing how to live. The one-unit-per-floor configuration, the flow of space guided by custom design, and the terrace that allows one to breathe like a forest within the city. All of these serve as a quiet stage for refining and centering one's own senses.
7th Floor Terrace. Designed with subtle details, such as lowering the floor level to allow for abundant planting without visible pots.
Despite being in the city center, directly reaching your residence via elevator without encountering others, warming your body and mind in the sauna, and exhaling deeply in soft light and air. How luxurious such moments are. Life here transcends mere function; it becomes a space to reconnect with your own senses and rhythms.
Architect Ogawa says, 'It's difficult to create a place for mental centering in the city, unlike a special venue like The Magarigawa Club. But I wanted to incorporate a similar feeling into daily life. I think that might be true luxury.'
His words reveal the quiet passion of an architect continuously seeking 'room for centering' amidst the urban bustle.
The new luxury is not something to boast about to others, but something that gently accompanies you from within. 'THE GRANDUO MINAMIAOYAMA' quietly and surely conveys this serene and abundant value.
THE GRANDUO MINAMIAOYAMA
Property Location | Minamiaoyama 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access | 2 min. walk from Nogizaka Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line) / 6 min. walk from Roppongi Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Toei Oedo Line) / 8 min. walk from Aoyama-itchome Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, Toei Oedo Line)
Structure & Scale | Reinforced concrete, 9 stories above ground
Total Units | 8 units (1 unit per floor)
Floor Area | 86.76–139.55 m²
Layout | 1LDK, 1SLDK, 1LDK + Sauna
Other | Pets negotiable, Residential/office use not permitted, Indoor/outdoor parking available
Property Location | Minamiaoyama 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access | 2 min. walk from Nogizaka Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line) / 6 min. walk from Roppongi Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Toei Oedo Line) / 8 min. walk from Aoyama-itchome Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, Toei Oedo Line)
Structure & Scale | Reinforced concrete, 9 stories above ground
Total Units | 8 units (1 unit per floor)
Floor Area | 86.76–139.55 m²
Layout | 1LDK, 1SLDK, 1LDK + Sauna
Other | Pets negotiable, Residential/office use not permitted, Indoor/outdoor parking available
Inquiries
THE GRANDUO Official Website
https://thegranduo.com