Suppose Design Office
Suppose Design Office is a privately held Japanese architectural design firm, founded 2000 in Hiroshima, delivering planning, interior design, renovation, and creative direction across residential, commercial, hospitality, and public sectors, with integrated real estate, construction, and venue-operating subsidiaries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersHiroshima, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Suppose Design Office does
Suppose Design Office is a privately held Japanese architectural design practice founded in October 2000 in Hiroshima by Makoto Tanijiri and Ai Yoshida. The firm delivers architectural planning, interior design, renovation, and creative direction services across residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, public/institutional, and mixed-use sectors, with a portfolio exceeding 300 completed projects in Japan and selectively overseas (notably New Acton Nishi in Canberra, Australia). Its design approach emphasizes "incompleteness as completion," environmental engineering principles (natural ventilation, radiant heating/cooling), and the integration of contemporary architecture into existing contexts and historical structures, as demonstrated in landmark projects such as ONOMICHI U2, hotel koe tokyo, KADOKAWA Tokorozawa Campus, and the Sendagaya Public Toilet.
The practice operates from a headquarters in Hiroshima and a Tokyo office opened in 2008, employing 11-50 staff. Since 2014 it has been incorporated as SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE Co., Ltd., and since 2017 has built a vertically integrated group of wholly owned subsidiaries: Vantage Point Properties (real estate/land consulting), Twenty-first Century Constructions (construction delivery), Shashokudo (public cafeteria), and BIRD BATH & KIOSK (retail/café), plus the managed Nekoyacho Building multi-use complex opened in September 2023. Revenue is generated through project-based design fees (approximately 15% of construction cost for residential, with structural and environmental engineering billed separately at 20-25% of the design fee), plus revenue from subsidiary operations and managed venues. New project leads are sourced primarily through the firm's bilingual Japanese/English website, newsletter, awards-driven earned media, and direct consultation, with international delivery executed through partners such as Arup and local architects.
The firm carries no external institutional investment, has no disclosed funding rounds, and does not publicly report financial results. Its competitive position rests on founder-led creative talent, a multi-decade portfolio of award-recognized work (iF Design, Frame Awards, dezeen, GOOD DESIGN, JCD, KUKAN, Nikkei), and the integrated design-build-operate ecosystem that differentiates it from pure design studios.
Suppose Design Office firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Suppose Design Office
- Legal name
- Suppose Design Office Co., Ltd.
- Website
- https://suppose.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Suppose Design Office is a privately held Japanese architectural design firm, founded 2000 in Hiroshima, delivering planning, interior design, renovation, and creative direction across residential, commercial, hospitality, and public sectors, with integrated real estate, construction, and venue-operating subsidiaries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Suppose Design Office industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI), Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where Suppose Design Office is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hiroshima
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Suppose Design Office business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Architecture Design Services: Project-based design fees for architecture and interior design. For residential projects, standard design fees are approximately 15% of construction cost. Structural engineering and facilities/environmental engineering services billed separately at approximately 20-25% of the design fee.
- Creative and Design Direction: Creative direction, design direction, and art direction services for projects including branding, space design, and total project coordination.
- Business Operations (Owned Venues): Direct operation of company-run venues including Shashokudo (company cafeteria), BIRD BATH & KIOSK, and managed properties. Also includes Vantage Point Properties real estate operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Residential Design - approximately 15% of construction cost |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Initial Consultation - Free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Suppose Design Office product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Suppose Design Office provides architectural design, interior design, renovation, landscape design, urban planning, and creative direction services for new construction and existing buildings. The firm serves residential homeowners, commercial and hospitality operators, and public-sector clients across Japan and internationally, with project-based fees determined after a free initial consultation.
Product overview
Suppose Design Office is an architecture and design firm that provides comprehensive architectural design services, interior design, and creative direction for various building types including residences, commercial spaces, hotels, cafes, offices, and public facilities. The firm operates as a unified practice with several subsidiary ventures including Shashokudo (a public cafeteria), Vantage Point Properties (real estate), Twenty-first Century Constructions (construction), BIRD BATH & KIOSK (retail), and manages the Nekoyacho Building commercial complex. The portfolio spans over 300 projects across Japan and internationally, with a philosophy of creating spaces that blend interior and exterior, embrace incompleteness, and forge new relationships between existing and new elements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services for residential, commercial, cultural, hospitality, educational, healthcare, and public facilities including new construction, renovation, interior design, and landscape architecture. Engaged via direct consultation with project-based design fees and construction supervision through completion.
- Creative and Design Direction Services Creative direction, design direction, and art direction services for projects including branding, space design, total project coordination, and conceptual guidance for clients across building and space types. Delivered alongside architectural design or as a standalone service.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 300 projects completed since founding in 2000
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Suppose Design Office
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Suppose Design Office technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Suppose Design Office partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sato SekkeicoreStructural and environmental engineering partner for projects including ONOMICHI U2. Provides structural and facilities design expertise.
- ArupcoreEnvironmental and services design partner for international projects including New Acton Nishi in Canberra, Australia.
- Vantage Point Properties (絶景不動産)coreAffiliate real estate company established in 2017. Can suggest plots of land to clients and provides property consulting services.
- 21st Century Constructions (株式会社21世紀工委店)coreAffiliate construction company established in 2017 for integrated design-build services.
- Shashokudo (社食堂)coreCompany cafeteria business established in 2017. Public cafeteria operated by the firm, also involved in company-operated venues and events.
- BIRD BATH & KIOSKminorBusiness venture established in 2018 operating retail kiosks offering cosmetics, goods, sweets, snacks, and stationery.
- MAXRAYcoreLighting design partner for projects including ONOMICHI U2, providing specialized lighting planning services.
- Craig Tan ArchitectscoreLead architect on New Acton Nishi project in Canberra, Australia. Collaborated on facade and interior design.
- Fender Katsalidis ArchitectscoreArchitecture firm collaborator on New Acton Nishi complex building project in Australia.
- Frame PublishersminorPublisher of 'SUPPOSE DESIGN OFFICE - Building in a Social Context' monograph in 2019.
- Shufunotomosha (主婦の友社)minorPublisher of 'Beautiful Noise' (美しいノイズ) book in October 2021.
- EXCLUSIVE (エクスナレッジ)minorPublisher of '1000% Architecture Continued' (1000%の建築 つづき) book in 2020.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Suppose Design Office competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SANAA (Sejima + Nishizawa): Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architectural practice renowned for cultural and public projects. Comparable as a top-tier Japanese design-led boutique working across cultural, public, and commercial typologies internationally.
- Kengo Kuma and Associates: Tokyo-based boutique architecture studio with a globally recognized design philosophy spanning residential, commercial, hospitality and cultural projects. Direct comparable as a Japanese design-led boutique with award-winning portfolio and international reach.
- Nendo: Tokyo-based design studio founded by Oki Sato that spans architecture, interiors, products and branding. Comparable as a Japanese multi-disciplinary boutique with a strong creative-direction overlap and international commercial clients.
- Schemata Architects: Tokyo-based studio led by Jo Nagasaka working across architecture, interiors and product design for commercial and residential clients. Comparable in size, philosophy and project mix including adaptive reuse and retail/hospitality work.
- Sou Fujimoto Architects: Tokyo-based boutique practice led by Sou Fujimoto with a signature minimalist design approach across residential, public, and cultural commissions. Comparable Japanese design-led boutique working across similar typologies and award circuits.
- Apollo Architects: Japanese residential-focused boutique firm with strong design reputation and award-winning single-family and small-scale housing portfolio. Comparable as a Japanese design-led boutique focusing on refined residential and small commercial work.
- Klein Dytham architecture: Tokyo-based studio working across architecture, interiors, and branding with strong retail and hospitality credentials. Comparable for its multi-disciplinary design approach, boutique scale, and similar client types.
- Wonderwall: Japanese boutique architecture studio specializing in residential, retail and hospitality interiors with a refined material approach. Comparable for similar boutique scale and project mix.
Broad incumbents
- Snøhetta: Internationally renowned architecture and design practice with a strongly identity-driven portfolio across cultural, public and hospitality projects. Comparable as a design-led practice that has scaled internationally while preserving creative direction.
- Nikken Sekkei: Japan's largest integrated architecture, engineering and design firm working on large-scale commercial, public and masterplan commissions. Comparable as a Japanese architecture incumbent against which Suppose Design Office competes for prestige commissions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Suppose Design Office social profiles
Digital presenceSuppose Design Office financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Suppose Design Office leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Suppose Design Office subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Suppose Design Office funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Suppose Design Office M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Suppose Design Office
What does Suppose Design Office do?
Suppose Design Office provides architectural design, interior design, renovation, landscape design, urban planning, and creative direction services for new construction and existing buildings. The firm serves residential homeowners, commercial and hospitality operators, and public-sector clients across Japan and internationally, with project-based fees determined after a free initial consultation.
Is Suppose Design Office a public or private company?
Suppose Design Office is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Suppose Design Office founded?
Suppose Design Office was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Suppose Design Office based?
Suppose Design Office is headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Suppose Design Office make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Architecture Design Services are the primary driver. The others are creative and Design Direction and business Operations (Owned Venues).
Who are Suppose Design Office's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SANAA (Sejima + Nishizawa), Kengo Kuma and Associates, Nendo, Schemata Architects, Sou Fujimoto Architects, Apollo Architects, Klein Dytham architecture and Wonderwall. Broad incumbents are Snøhetta and Nikken Sekkei.
Does Suppose Design Office have an API?
No public API is recorded for Suppose Design Office.
What industry is Suppose Design Office in?
Suppose Design Office's product category is Architectural Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 1520.