Campus life beyond the classroom at Nagoya University
Nagoya, Japan
In education
At Nagoya University of Commerce & Business in Japan, a terrace among the trees makes room for campus life beyond the classroom. Pantagruel picnic tables and Inumbra parasols by Extremis create outdoor meeting places where students can share lunch, exchange ideas or simply enjoy a break between classes.
A place to pause, a place to connect
Timber decking stretches between the trees, bringing the seating areas into the greenery. Wooden tabletops echo the terrace beneath them, while dark frames provide a quiet contrast. Above the tables, Inumbra parasols offer shade, adding another layer beneath the leafy canopy.
The setting invites students to spend time outside without leaving campus life behind. A shared table offers space for an informal discussion, a few open notebooks or a conversation that has little to do with the next exam. No classroom booking required.
Good conversations don’t stop when class ends.
Round tables for everyday campus life
The shape of a table helps shape the way people meet. Pantagruel seats eight in a circle, putting everyone face to face with no head of the table. It is a natural arrangement for exchanging ideas, whether over lunch or during an informal group discussion. A built-in Lazy Susan makes sharing food and drinks just as easy.
The integrated benches also bring a practical advantage to this university terrace: tables and seating stay together in one organised arrangement. Paired with Inumbra, each picnic table becomes a shaded meeting point within the larger outdoor space.
Here, outdoor furniture gives the terrace a role in the rhythm of the day. Somewhere to arrive early, linger a little longer and make the most of the time between classes.
Pictures by Joji Okamoto
