[Desigignner Intervieieww and column]
For turning R&D Facilities into more creative spaces:
PLANUS INC. (Registered architects ﬁrm with ﬁrst-class license)
We, Tajima, have launched ﬂoor sheets "ANTI-CHEMICAL VINYL SHEET LAB" and "ANTI-CHEMICAL VINYLSHEET LAB PLUS" in 2022. Typically, functional aspects are prioritized for such types of ﬂoors. However,the development concept behind these products aimed not only to enhance functionality but also to'improve the working environment' through thoughtful design and variety.
We have received valuable insights and advice on product development from PLANUS INC., a registeredarchitectural ﬁrm with a ﬁrst-class license. This time, we interviewed their architects about the future ofR&D facilities in Japan and the ﬂooring used in these facilities.

Thanks to …
PLANUS Inc.
Executive oﬃcer/Chief creative director
Mr. Kazumasa Fukuda
PLANUS Inc.
Mr. Eisuke Kurihara

Rental lab space on the 5th floor where ANTI-CHEMICAL VINYL SHEET LAB PLUS TP-8320G is installed.

Laboratories should be creative spaces that generate inspiration.
We have been waiting for a floor that meets this demand.
Mr. Fukuda：
Looking at R&D facilities overseas, there are many interesting and exciting ones where innovation is likely
to be generated. These are spaces for 'people' to conduct research activities. Talented researchers fromall over the world gather and work in such places.
On the other hand, conventional research facilities in Japan have yet to create such spaces. For example,
when it comes to flooring materials, functionality is the top priority, similar to production facilities suchas factories. How people feel in these spaces has been of secondary importance, with no clear emphasison color or pattern. Floor sheets for such spaces had limited color variations or were too glossy. It is tiringand uninteresting to conduct research in such environments. It is difficult to come up with new ideas insuch settings, isn’t it?
We believe that R&D facilities should be considered "places where people creatively conduct research
activities." They should not be indifferent spaces that make you want to leave as soon as possible.
Instead, they should be places that make you want to be there, where you can refresh your mind and findinspiration even when facing difficulties.
It was said that Japan used to lead the world in innovative manufacturing, such as the creation of the'WALKMAN.' We believe that the creation of attractive spaces for research facilities has lagged behind theglobal trend, which may result in Japan falling behind the edge of the world in the field of new productmanufacturing that never existed before.

PLANUS Inc. Mr. Kazumasa Fukuda（At 10F DISCOVERY LOUNGE）

PLANUS Inc., with registered first-class licensed architects, is a highly specialized architectural firm in thedesign of R&D facilities. Considering "contributing to clients' 'discovery' and 'innovation' throughdesign" as their mission, the firm has designed many Japanese research facilities and innovation centers
to be creative spaces of world-class standards.
Mr. Fukuda：
In the design of R&D facilities, flooring design is usually limited to different color layouts, and we thought
there were no other options beyond that. We discussed the need for a wood grain pattern to makeresearchers want to stay for longer periods of time, and now Tajima has introduced the newANTI-CHEMICAL VINYL SHEET LAB PLUS. We now have flooring material options for research facilities,
including wood grain and mortar-like patterns. We believe that flooring materials for improving R&Dfacilities have finally begun to advance.

A seamless connection between office and laboratory areas
to relieve the tense atmosphere in the laboratory.
ANTI-CHEMICAL VINYL SHEET LAB PLUS is a functional vinyl floor sheet that offers various designs suchas wood grain, cloud, textile, and mortar patterns, while being equipped with chemical resistance,
antibacterial properties, antistatic properties, and wax-free maintenance, all essential for R&D facilities.
This product perfectly aligns with PLANUS Inc.'s vision for the future of R&D facilities. The timing of the
product's launch was ideal, coinciding with the design of their new building, which includes rentallaboratory functions.
Mr. Kurihara, who designed this rental laboratory floor, shares his impressions of ANTI-CHEMICAL VINYLSHEET LAB PLUS, which they were among the first to use.

PLANUS Inc. Mr. Eisuke Kurihara（At 10F DISCOVERY LOUNGE）

Mr. Fukuda:Floors give a strong impression and influence on people. People recognize "what this place is for" bystepping on the floor. If it is a coated floor, they may think it should be a restaurant kitchen, or if it is a
fluffy carpet, they may associate it with a luxurious place. That is why we believe it is important to use
wood-grain patterned flooring in laboratories.
Traditionally, R&D facilities had an atmosphere that made people feel serious and nervous. However,wood-grain patterned flooring can create a psychological effect that encourages people to be morerelaxed, fostering creativity and communication.
Offices and laboratories have always been located next to each other. Typically, data from experiments
conducted in the laboratory are checked and summarized in the office.
However, while offices have recently become more like living spaces where people want to stay,laboratories are not yet as comfortable. Despite efforts to divide the space with beautiful glass or design
the walls, there has always been a clear separation between comfortable spaces and spaces that aremore fatiguing.
With this wood-grained ANTI-CHEMICAL VINYL SHEET LAB PLUS, we believe the connection between theoffice and laboratory has significantly advanced.
Moreover, it is nice to have a variety of shades within the wood grain pattern. The variety of colors andpatterns is an advantage in meeting each client's requirements.

Be open. Full of stimulation.
A space that generates "unexpectedness"that can stimulate the inspiration.
For R&D facilities, changes from various perspectives are required. While functionality remains essential,
there is a growing trend towards creating more creative spaces. This trend focuses on elements that werepreviously overlooked, such as the researchers themselves and their environment.
We conducted further interviews regarding the current and future trends of R&D facilities.
Mr. Fukuda:
There is a growing trend toward openness in the approach of R&D facilities. This trend comes from theconcept of open innovation, where joint development is conducted with external researchers. It has
become increasingly challenging for a single company to create something entirely new on its own.
In fact, we are receiving an increasing number of requests to create "innovation centers" where researchand development can be conducted collaboratively with external parties and their technologies can be
introduced to others, rather than completing all work within a single laboratory.

Mr. Kurihara:
These changes in R&D facilities include the aspect of creating a recruiting effect, making people want to
conduct their research there. It's similar to how office environments can attract employees. Just as somepeople choose a job based on the office environment, a laboratory should be a place that makes
researchers want to work there. They spend a lot of time in the lab, so making it feel like a living spacecan be an appealing point.
Experiments cannot be done remotely due to the chemicals used and the equipment required. From thisperspective, what is needed is a suitable 'place'
Mr. Fukuda:
In R&D facilities, unexpected encounters and opportunities are essential. When research hits a standstill,being in a slightly different atmosphere can lead to new ideas, conversations with others, unexpected
perspectives, or encountering interesting samples left unattended. These opportunities often providehints for creating something new.
We believe our job is to create such an environment.
Mr. Kurihara:
The theme of our showroom, which functions as a rental laboratory, is inspired by 'Edison'. Thomas
Edison, the famous inventor, was actually the first person to create a place like an innovation center.
Edison's laboratory still stands in New Jersey, USA. It includes not only a laboratory and a factory but
also a music room and meeting spaces amidst a collection of various materials. It's an environment filledwith opportunities for inspiration. We designed our building with the aim of recreating such a place. On
the glass wall separating the meeting space from the laboratory, Edison's own handwritten notes fromhis notebooks are directly imprinted onto film to enhance the creative atmosphere.

Rental lab space on the 5th floor where ANTI-CHEMICAL VINYLSHEET LAB PLUS TP-8320G is installed.

A space whereconnected.

officesandlaboratories are seamlesslyMr. Fukuda:
A company like ours is required to change stereotypes. In fact, our company building embodies a conceptthat can help create something new.
On the first floor, there is "6oo," a shop where you can buy chocolate, coffee, aromas, and lab wares, aswell as X/S, a showroom. The fifth floor features a co-working space and rental labs for our partners.
"DISCOVERY LOUNGE" on the tenth floor is a lounge space where visitors can feel as if they have arrived
at the lobby of a resort hotel. All of these facilities are designed with the concept of generating
innovation.
We don't want to be just an architectural office whose job is confined to designing buildings; we aim tobe a group that explores the theme of "what we can do to help researchers produce good work." We areworking together to achieve this goal.
Chocolate is one of our approaches. If you are interested, please visit our website. You will find detailed
information on the secrets our CEO, Mr. Hayashi, has been exploring.

We believe that their commitment to contributing to researchers' discoveries and innovations has
directly led to advancements in R&D facilities in Japan. Through this interview with PLANUS Inc., we areproud to be part of their vision by producing new floor materials that align with their aspirations for R&D
facilities.
We would appreciate it if you could take a look at ANTI-CHEMICAL VINYL SHEET LAB PLUS andANTI-CHEMICAL VINYL SHEET LAB, floor coverings that will renew the impression of research anddevelopment facilities.

PLANUS INC.
https://planus.co.jp/
Column from PLANUS INC. editorial department※In Japanese.
Chocolate, espresso and the Nobel Prize.
600(Six hundreds)
On-line shop

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Floor material used in PLANUS INC.

Sheet Vinyl Flooring

ANTI-CHEMICAL SHEET LAB PLUS
Anti-chemical /Creative Design/Wood grain pattern
TP-8320G