teco
t e c o is an architectural design atelier based in Asakusabashi, Tokyo, led by architect Chie Konno and composed of approximately ten members. Founded in 2011 as KONNO and renamed t e c o in 2015, the studio’s name derives from the principle of the lever—teco—as expressed in Archimedes’ words: “Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the Earth.” This idea reflects the studio’s belief that thoughtful design, even at a small scale, can shift existing systems and open new possibilities in everyday life.
The studio works across a wide range of projects closely tied to daily experience, including furniture, housing, care facilities, and public buildings, while also engaging in art installations and urban research. By participating in projects from early conceptual stages, t e c o explores how spatial design can extend beyond organizational structures and conventional frameworks.
Key works include the residential project Sunny Loggia House, recipient of the Tokyo Architects Association Residential Architecture Award Gold Prize, and the venue design for the Japanese Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, awarded a Jury’s Special Mention. The community cultural hub Kasugadai Centre Centre, which received multiple honors including the Architectural Institute of Japan Prize 2023, stands as one of the studio’s most significant recent achievements. Through these projects, t e c o continues to pursue architecture as a subtle fulcrum—small yet powerful interventions capable of transforming both buildings and the surrounding social landscape.
