A Tokyo office block has been given a dramatic update by Japanese firm Amano Design Office in the form of a façade made from undulating steel ribbons.

The highly-engineered form has a deceptively simple appearance – it is made from a diagonal grid support underneath the horizontal lines of steel. The curves of the design create a concealed effect from the outside of the building while still allowing for light to filter through to the interior.

The façade makes the building stand out against its neighbours, while the strips of curving metal soften and hide the harsh concrete form beneath. The design has particular impact at night as the twists of metal offer a variety of angles for reflecting light, creating playful transformative effects.

The use of sinuous curves and rib-like layers evokes a sense of precision and movement, reminiscent of the understatedly engineered aesthetic of our Spring/Summer 2016 Design Direction, Trace. In this direction hi-tech approaches are softened in an illusionary look defined by shifting light and subtle ambience.

Following Renew and Extend, Trace is the final instalment of our Spring/Summer 2016 Design Directions. For a more in-depth look at this season's colour palettes, see our S/S 16 Colour report.