Tokyo Archives

Karimoku Case lines minimalist Tokyo apartment with local wood

Japanese brand Karimoku Case has redesigned an apartment on a hilltop in Tokyo, using wood and a neutral colour palette to create a “calm and serene atmosphere”.

Named Azabu Hills Residence, the project was designed by Karimoku Case – a studio developed by Karimoku Furniture in collaboration with design studios Keiji Ashizawa and Norm Architects.

The studio used the project as an opportunity to optimise the use of local zelkova wood which is increasingly underutilised.

Living space interior of Azabu Hills Residence in Japan — The apartment features furniture made from zelkova wood

“We sympathized with the story of how zelkova used to be a common material in Japan, but is now being chipped and discarded, and wished to explore the possibilities of zelkova through this project,” lead designer Keiji Ashizawa told Dezeen.

“When I first saw the sample of it, I felt that its gentle reddish hue, along with its story, was a good match for the project,” he continued.

“We decided to create the interior using zelkova that would come in harmony with the gentle light from the north side.”

View into living space of Tokyo residence by Karimoku Case — A neutral material palette creates a “calm and serene atmosphere”

The 226-metre-square apartment was centred around a spacious, open-plan living area and dining room illuminated by floor-to-ceiling windows.

A small workspace nestled behind a wall in the living space makes use of the spacious interior, and is furnished with a desk, chair and shelving made from zelkova wood.

Desk space within Azabu Hills Residence in Tokyo — White plaster walls and wooden floors define the living spaces

The minimalist interior is defined by textured white walls and wood used for flooring, window frames and fittings, which are tied together by cream furnishings, paper lighting fixtures and decorative artwork.

In the living space, lattice wooden screens were used to separate programmes as well as provide cross ventilation through the space to create airy interiors.

“With the residence being located in the middle of a large city like Tokyo, it was important to have a home-like atmosphere that makes you feel at ease,” Ashizawa said.

“We were conscious of the calmness and tranquility needed to achieve this, and designed the interior with well-curated furniture, lighting, and art to create an environment for this purpose.”

Minimalist dining space in Azabu Hills Residence in Tokyo — Wooden, lattice screens allow ventilation through the home

A counter made from zelkova wood divides the living space and adjacent kitchen, while also serving as an additional seating and dining space.

Within the kitchen, cabinets built from gridded wooden frames were finished with concrete countertops, complemented by tiled terrazzo flooring that also features in the home’s entryway.

Bedroom interior of Tokyo apartment by Karimoku Case — Furnishings, paper lighting fixtures and pieces of artwork tie the interior together

Gridded wooden frames are repeated for both storage in the living area and a wall in the main bedroom where the home transitions into a cosy-feel with carpet flooring.

A circular chair and marbled table sit in front of the bedroom’s floor-to-ceiling windows, with a study desk nestled into the corner.

Bedroom interior of minimalist apartment Tokyo by Karimoku Case — Gridded wooden frames feature in the kitchen, living space and bedroom

Other recently completed projects with minimalist interiors include a dental clinic in Montreal designed to feel like “someone’s home” and a London pub converted into a pared-back jewellery showroom.

The photography is by Tomooki Kengaku.

Project credits:

Architect: Keiji Ashizawa Design
Project architect: Keiji Ashizawa / Ryota Maruyama
Client: reBITA / NTT Urban Development Coperation Tokyo
Construction: Tamarix
Furniture collaboration: Norm Architects
Furniture: Karimoku Case
Lighting: Kojima Shoten / Saito Shomei
Lighting plan: AURORA / Yoshiki Ichikawa
Interior styling: Yumi Nakata

Reference

Interior Design

Keiji Ashizawa adds “residential calm” to Aloop clinic in Ginza

By Zarkon Group,26/01/2024

Japanese architect Keiji Ashizawa has created the interior for a skincare clinic in Tokyo, using textiles and custom-made furniture to make it feel more residential than medical.

The Aloop Clinic & Lab, which provides “skin cure and care”, is located in the city’s upscale Ginza area and run by Japanese beauty company POLA. Ashizawa wanted to give it an interior that would feel peaceful, while also representing the brand.

White Aloop clinic reception — The Aloop clinic has a calm minimalist interior

“As a clinic that uses medical technology to deal with beauty, we thought that the space should have sincerity, calmness, and beauty in order to create a comfortable time for customers to feel at ease,” Ashizawa told Dezeen.

“In addition, considering that this is a completely new business for the POLA beauty brand, we felt that it was necessary to create a space that would enhance the brand.”

Wooden panelling inside Aloop clinic — Wood was used throughout the space

To do so, Ashizawa looked at the design of the 210-square-metre clinic like he would if he were designing a residential space, giving it a calm, minimalist interior.

“Although it is a clinic, I considered the space to be similar to a hotel or a living space,” he said. “Therefore, I used materials that I use in designing living spaces and hotels.”

“The walls are plaster and the floor is a wool rug from Hotta Carpet,” he added. “The sofa and furniture at the characteristic entrance are made of Kvadrat wool textile to create a pleasant texture.”

Treatment room in Japanese skincare clinic — Treatment rooms were designed to have a residential feel

The architect used a clean, simple colour palette throughout the space, with white-painted walls contrasting against wooden panelling and wooden doors.

“Wood was used for doors, furniture and details because we wanted to create a residential calm rather than a clinic,” Ashizawa said. “We felt that a bright and healthy atmosphere was necessary.”

“The extensive use of wood was to create a residential atmosphere, and we wanted the space to be as far away from a typical clinic as possible,” he added.

Sofas by Karimoku — Keiji Ashizawa created custom-made sofas with furniture brand Karimoku

His studio worked together with wooden furniture brand Karimoku to design the custom-made sofas for the space, which welcome customers as they enter the clinic.

“Of particular importance to this project were the custom sofas,” Ashizawa said.

“We asked Karimoku, with whom we communicate on a daily basis for furniture development and wood projects, to work with us on the development of the furniture.”

He compared his collaboration with the brand to that of mid-century modern Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and furniture brand Artek.

“For me, Karimoku has become an indispensable partner in thinking about space, just as Aalto is for Artek,” he explained.

Calm treatment room in Tokyo — Neutral colours contrast against pale wood

By creating the sofas with rounded edges, Ashizawa aimed for them to “gently envelop” customers after their treatments.

“The mere fact that something looks hard or painful makes the body tense, so we thought it would be desirable to eliminate such things,” he said.

“However, in order to maintain a comfortable sense of tension in the room, delicate details of metal and wood were used to achieve a balance.”

Sculptures in Aloop clinic — Small sculptures decorate the space

Small sculptures were dotted throughout the Aloop clinic, including in the treatment rooms.

Ashizawa has previously designed an interior with a similar colour palette for the Hiroo Residence in Tokyo, and also used plenty of wood for his and Norm Architects minimalist Trunk Hotel design.

The photography is by Tomooki Kengaku.

Reference

Architecture

kengo kuma’s tokyo café reuses shrine materials for origami facade

By Zarkon Group,29/12/2023

kengo kuma revives traditional craft and materials

This so-called Wakuni Shoten café is set to open in In the heart of Higashimurayama City, Tokyo with architecture by Japanese icon Kengo Kuma. Recognized at once by its textural, patterned facade, the architecture expresses a contemporary reading of tradition. Its materials have been repurposed from a Shinto shrine, and have been reassembled with influence from the art of origami. Thus, the project is more than a café, but a celebration of community, sustainability, and the enduring spirit of Japanese craftsmanship. With its architecture now complete, the Wakuni Shoten café will open in January 2024.

images courtesy Kengo Kuma & Associates

learning from the heritage of tokyo

The Wakuni Shoten café is the result of a collaboration between Kengo Kuma & Associates, Okaniwa Construction Co., and Tomokazu Uchino, head of Uchino Sheet Metal. The space was born from a deep love for Uchino’s childhood home, the Aoba shopping district. Witnessing the district’s gradual decline, the team sought to breathe new life into the area while celebrating its rich heritage. The collaboration with Kengo Kuma and his design team proved to be the perfect marriage of vision and expertise, as the Japanese architect is known for his work with salvaged materials.

the folded facade in green and blue

The defining feature of Kengo Kuma’s Wakuni Shoten café is undoubtedly its exterior, a patterned composition of seven hundred patinated bronze plates each sourced from the roof of Hayatani Shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture. Rather than discarding these disused plates, Tomokazu Uchino and his team of skilled craftsmen painstakingly reshaped and repurposed them, imbuing them with a new lease on life. The result is a mesmerizing facade that shimmers with a spectrum of greens and blues.

The café’s interior walls are finished in a stark black plaster, serving as a backdrop for brass accents, including lampshades, sinks, baseboards, and kitchen elements. Even the outdoor chairs, designed by Kengo Kuma and crafted from salvaged seats of the former National Stadium, echo this theme of reuse. Sustainability is woven into the very fabric of the project. The decision to reuse the cafe’s original 52-year-old framework honors the past while minimizing environmental impact. By reinforcing the foundation and strategically integrating new wood, the team has revived the derelict structure, demonstrating a respect for both the environment and the district’s history.

project info:

project title: Wakuni Shoten Café | @wakuni_cafe

location: Aoba Shopping District, Higashimurayama City, Tokyo, Japan

architecture: Kengo Kuma | @kkaa_official

materials collaborator: Tomokazu Uchino | @tomokazu_uchino, @uchinobankin

design, construction: Okaniwa Construction Co. | @okaniwastyle

client: Wakuni Shoten | @wakunishoten

opening: January 2024

Reference

Interior Design

Keiji Ashizawa Design and Norm Architects create Trunk Hotel in Tokyo

By Zarkon Group,17/11/2023

An exposed raw concrete facade fronts the Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park, which Japanese studio Keiji Ashizawa Design and Danish firm Norm Architects conceived as a minimalist retreat in the heart of the city.

Marking the third location in a trio of Trunk hotels in Tokyo, the design of the boutique hotel was rooted in the concept of “urban recharge”, according to Trunk chief creative officer Masayuki Kinoshita.

The raw concrete facade of Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park — Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park features a raw concrete facade

The hotel group said the idea was to balance the opposing elements of tradition and modernity as well as nature and the city and the melding of both Japanese and European craft.

Keiji Ashizawa Design created a textured concrete aggregate facade for the seven-storey building, which is punctuated with steel-lined balconies and overlooks Yoyogi Park’s lush treetops.

Neutral bathroom within Tokyo's Trunk Hotel — Guest rooms feature a muted colour and material palette

The studio worked with Norm Architects to design the minimalist interior, accessed via a copper-clad entrance.

A total of 20 guest rooms and five suites were dressed in a muted colour and material palette featuring hardwood flooring and plush Hotta Carpet-designed rugs informed by traditional Japanese architecture.

Paper-cord chairs and washi pendant lights at Trunk Hotel in Tokyo — Paper-cord chairs and tapered washi pendant lights contribute to the minimalist design

Delicate rattan partition walls delineate spaces within the rooms, which open out onto the building’s balconies that were fitted with slanted ceilings in order to encourage sunlight into each room “as if mimicking the gentle transitions of a day”.

“It’s been an interesting journey for us to find the right balance between a space that is relaxed and vibrant at the same time,” said Norm Architects co-founder Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen.

Minimalist neutral double bed within the Trunk Hotel in Tokyo — The interiors were designed to be both “relaxed and vibrant”

The rooms are also characterised by paper-cord chairs and tapered washi pendant lights as well as abstract artworks, amorphous vases and grainy floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiles.

On the ground floor, oak seating designed by Norm Architects for Karimoku features in the hotel restaurant, which includes a striking copper-clad pizza oven and the same rattan accents that can be found in the guest rooms.

Rattan room dividers in the restaurant of Trunk Hotel — Rattan accents can also be found in the hotel restaurant

“It is a very unique and gratifying experience in the sense that the architecture, interior and furniture, as well as the attention to detail, have created a space with such a strong sense of unity,” said Keiji Ashizawa Design.

An open-air pool club is located on the sixth floor of the hotel.

Sand-blasted concrete flooring was paired with thin bluey-green tiles that make up the infinity swimming pool, which overlooks the park below.

A “glowing” firepit can also be set alight after dark, intended to create a soothing contrast with the bright Tokyo skyline.

Rooftop infinity pool overlooking Yoyogi Park — The Trunk Hotel features a rooftop infinity pool

The city’s first Trunk Hotel opened in Shibuya in 2017, while the second location is an offbeat one-room hotel in the metropolis’s Kagurazaka neighbourhood featuring its own miniature nightclub.

The photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen.

Reference

Architecture

internal system of partitions and openings revives apartment in tokyo

By Zarkon Group,22/10/2023

HAMS and, Studio’s One Nuance rearranges apartment’s layout

HAMS and, Studio takes over the renovation of an apartment in Tokyo‘s suburbs, tailoring it for a forward-looking, flexible lifestyle. The project revamps the rigid grid plan and introduces subtle variations, or ‘nuances’, in spatial composition, color, and materials. The aim is to create an adaptable living space that accommodates the diverse activities of a working couple. Embracing the unique features of the corner-room layout, the design eliminates the original corridors, replacing them with smaller rooms arranged along the exterior walls. This transformation creates a bright, open area, enhancing the sense of overall spaciousness.

all images by Akira Nakamura

subtle textures and unified color palette adorn the living space

The living room, designed as an open zone, connects directly to the smaller rooms, fostering a lively and relaxed atmosphere. The double-opening design, incorporating ‘outer openings’ for light and ‘inner openings’ framing living activities, adds continuity and expansiveness to the interior space. The inner facade varies in appearance based on the purpose of each room and the type of partition used, creating nuanced viewports within the home. The design team opts for different finishes, such as robust plastering for the internal walls and glossy solid finishes for passages to the living room. These subtle textures, along with a unified color palette adorn the flexible living space, offering inhabitants a dynamic environment.

the unique double-opening design of ‘inner and outer openings’ creates continuity and expansiveness

the ‘outer openings’ bring natural light inside the space and ‘inner openings’ frame living activities

depending on the purpose of the smaller rooms, the inner openings change in form

Reference

Architecture

kengo kuma’s ‘kiki’s museum of literature’ soon to open in tokyo

By Zarkon Group,04/10/202304/10/2023

UPDATE: Kengo Kuma has announced that its Edogawa City Eiko Kadono Museum of Children’s Literature, also known as the ‘Kiki’s Museum of Literature,’ will open to the public on November 3rd, 2023. New images have been captured of the village-like structure and its playful interiors as it nears completion.

kengo kuma unveils ‘kiki’s museum of literature’

In honor of author Eiko Kadono, Kengo Kuma and Associates designs a hilltop museum for children‘s literature. Defined by its playful geometries finished in pink and white, the museum overlooks Nagisa Park in Edogawa City, Tokyo. The design team expects the building to open by the summer of 2023, at which point visitors in Japan across all ages will be invited to experience the world of Eiko Kadono, who famously authored ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service,’ a story which, in 1989, inspired Studio Ghibli’s film adaptation directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

images courtesy Kengo Kuma and Associates © Kiki’s Museum of Literature

inspired by the worlds of eiko kadono

Kengo Kuma and Associates draws influence from the fictional works of Eiko Kadono in the design of the children’s literature museum in Edogawa City. The architecture of the new cultural space will echo the atmosphere of the fictional town illustrated in the author’s best-selling novel. The design team explains: ‘We thought the architecture would be designed starting with small units, like the little houses that often appear in the stories of Kadono.’ These small boxes will follow the gentle slope of the hill, and will be enclosed with wide, projecting roofs that lightly reach outward ‘like blooming flowers.’ Follow the development of the project on the museum’s official Instagram.

clustered boxes will echo the fictional town illustrated in Eiko Kadono’s Kiki’s Delivery Service
the museum is designed in honor of author Eiko Kadono
a third floor café overlooks the Old Edogawa River

Reference

Architecture

five wooden house-shaped volumes compose nursery school in tokyo

By Zarkon Group,25/09/2023

himawari nursery school reimagines early childhood education

Akaike Tohyama Architects designs Himawari Nursery School in Musashimurayama City, Tokyo, relocating and expanding the original structure. Situated in the residential expanse extending toward the Musashino Plateau and Sayama Hills, the project reimagines early childhood education.

Departing from the previous two-story RC structure that segmented children’s activities, a single-story wooden structure rises to enrich interactions among children of varying ages. To achieve this, the design strategically places the nursery room, hall, and childcare functions on the first floor, while staff facilities, including the reception desk, are arranged on the second floor. This zoning strategy eliminates the division of children’s activities and fosters an environment conducive to cross-generational interaction.

all images by Kawasumi & Kobayashi Kenji Photo Office

nursery school becomes a dynamic playground

The entire site becomes a ‘playground’ where children are encouraged to explore both indoor and outdoor realms. Given the necessity for a single-story wooden structure, coupled with considerations for bicycle parking, childcare areas, and site conditions, the design team forms a compact schoolyard. Rather than opting for a single expansive playground, the approach scatters smaller play areas across the site. This arrangement integrates the ‘playground’ within the architectural volumes, culminating in a circulation system that seamlessly connects the interior and exterior. The plan offers a variety of play activities facilitated by accessible openings from nursery rooms and the hall, uneven terrain, diverse yard pavement textures, and pockets of green.

Himawari Nursery School is situated in a residential area of Musashimurayama City in Tokyo

House-Shaped Volumes Embrace a Child-Friendly Atmosphere

At the heart of the School’s plan lie five wooden house-shaped volumes that echo the scale of surrounding detached houses. The design maintains a low flat roof height, complemented by high ceilings, creating a gentle structure that seamlessly blends into the local townscape. Exposed wooden beams envelop the space in warmth, and each volume boasts a distinct structure, lending character to individual areas. Wood extends to the exterior and walls, enveloping the entire building in a child-friendly, inviting ambiance.

To seamlessly integrate the kindergarten into the neighborhood, the building’s volume is thoughtfully dispersed throughout the site, with the yard nestled within the architectural margins. The design introduces a walkway that connects the small garden with an alley-like path, allowing children to roam both indoors and outdoors. The small yard fosters unrestricted play for daily childcare. Himawari Nursery School redefines early childhood education, promoting childhood exploration and community integration.

five wooden house-shaped volumes that echo the scale of surrounding detached houses

the site becomes a ‘playground’ where children are encouraged to explore both indoor and outdoor realms

the small yard fosters unrestricted play for daily childcare

exposed wooden beams envelop the space in warmth, and each volume boasts a distinct structure

Reference

Architecture

membrane roof casts a soft glow over two-story house in tokyo

By Zarkon Group,14/07/2023

house with a membrane roof in tokyo, japan

House with a Membrane Roof is a private dwelling located in a dense residential area of Tokyo. Designed for an owner with a nomadic lifestyle, the project takes on a camping-like aesthetic with adaptive functions and spaces. Yuko Nagayama & Associates teamed up with Shohei Yoshida + Associates and architect Asuka Fujita to complete the 60 sqm residence enclosed by surrounding buildings on all sides except for the narrow frontage facing the street. These site conditions restrict from having large openings in the exterior walls, pushing the trio to introduce natural light from above through a tubular membrane roof. As a result, a diffused glow engulfs the roof volume before pouring into the second floor and atrium, reaching as far down as the ground floor.

Bathed in ample daylight, the second floor serves as a lively public area, whereas the ground floor shelters private quarters like the bedroom and bathroom, which, although basking in subduded lighting, provide a serene sanctuary akin to a tranquil cave, ideal for unwinding and slumbering peacefully. To optimize the site’s limited space, an indoor garden, complete with a flourishing tree, graces the skylit atrium, replacing the conventional outdoor garden. ‘By incorporating it indoors, the owner enjoys an immersive experience, directly engaging with nature rather than merely observing it through a window,’ notes the team.

changing lights inform about outdoor conditions

The Yuko Nagayama Associates team collaborated with Fujita and Shohei Yoshida + Associates (more here) to incorporate a flexible membrane material onto the roof, allowing it to take on a visually striking contorted shape. It consists of a dual-layer structure, with an upper and lower membrane enclosing the structural components and thermal insulation. The lower membrane follows a graceful catenary curve, attaching to T-shaped structural beams, resulting in a ceiling adorned with semi-circular light tubes. Meanwhile, the airspace within the roof serves as an insulating layer and facilitates natural ventilation. This allows air to circulate from bottom to top, ensuring a comfortable indoor environment.

While the sky is not directly visible through the membrane roof, the changing light conditions give cues about the surrounding environment. At sunrise, the space gradually brightens, and warm light tinges the area with a reddish hue during the evening. The brightness also varies depending on whether it is sunny or cloudy. ‘In this way, the roof acts as a skin-like layer, transmitting the exterior changes to the interior and transforming one’s sensory experience,’ reflects Yugo Nagayama. The House with a Membrane Roof took two years to complete.

a skylight at the entrance of House with a Membrane Roof

the membrane material introduces a soft glow to the interiors

attaching semi-circular light tubes to the lower membrane

Reference

Interior Design

Tile-clad Tokyo toilets are drenched in bright green and yellow light

By Zarkon Group,22/06/2023

Local studio I IN has renovated two toilets in a Tokyo shopping centre, using lights that “propose new colours for genders” to create vivid interiors.

The interior design studio completely renovated the two toilets, which are located on the restaurant floor of the shopping centre Shin-Marunouchi in Chiyoda City, Tokyo.

It began by wrapping both restrooms in white tiles to give them a clean feel that would also function as an unobtrusive background for the coloured lights.

Exterior of Tokyo colourful bathrooms — The bathrooms are marked by bright green and yellow light

“We used a mosaic tile by Dinaone that is made in the Tajimi area, which is famous for tile-making in Japan, and it has a special non-slip treatment on its surface,” I IN told Dezeen.

“We wrapped the space in tiles to express the feeling of cleanliness; we think public restrooms need to offer a sense of purity so that this whole space can be cleaned easily,” the studio continued.

“Our aim was also to create a continuous floor, wall and ceiling using one material so that people can experience entering an unrealistic space.”

Interior of yellow bathroom — Stainless-steel sinks contrast white tiles inside

The all-white interior was then enhanced by hidden light fixtures that colour the female bathroom entirely yellow, while the male bathroom is all green.

“The main aim was to propose new colours for genders,” the studio said.

“The universal toilet signage is usually red and blue – we wanted to bring them closer together. In rainbow colours, which define diversity, yellow and green are next to each other.”

Green bathroom interior in Tokyo by I IN — The bathrooms are located in the Shin-Marunouchi building

The colours of the toilets can be changed for seasonal events, but will otherwise remain yellow and green.

The studio also designed sinks especially for the toilets, in which almost all the functions are hidden away to help create tidy spaces with a futuristic feel.

“We used silver metal – stainless steel – to create original sink designs for both the women’s and the men’s room,” I IN said.

“Here, you do not see typical equipment such as faucets, soap dispensers and hand dryers; these are designed inside the counters but you can easily find and use them,” it added.

“As the space is all about new restroom experiences, we designed a new experience for washing hands as well.”

Green toilet exterior in Chiyoda Tokyo — The spaces were designed to be “extraordinary”

I IN collaborated with architecture and engineering studio Mitsubishi Jisho Design on the design.

The studio hopes that the washrooms will create a memorable experience for visitors.

“The sensation of being saturated by the color of light transforms all elements of the restroom experience into something extraordinary, leaving a powerful lasting impression on the visitor,” the studio concluded.

I IN was longlisted for emerging interior design studio of the year at Dezeen Awards 2022 and has previously overhauled a 1980s apartment in Tokyo to give it an understated luxury feel.

The photography is by Tomooki Kengaku.

Reference

Architecture

katata yoshihito’s exhibition-like gallery showcases knives in tokyo

By Zarkon Group,11/05/2023

katata yoshihito design unveils tojiro knife gallery

Katata Yoshihito Design shapes Japanese knife manufacturer TOJIRO’s first store in Tokyo as an interactive and informative exhibition space that encapsulates the brand’s quality of craftsmanship. The TOJIRO Knife Gallery is conceived as a multipurpose complex divided into two sections that showcase the product ranges and their context with full transparency. A main gallery space bathed in hues of grey and geometric frames uniformly exhibits the knives along the wall at eye level to maximize the site’s small area and encourage engagement. Meanwhile, a maintenance room equipped with the machinery used at TOJIRO’s main factory allows visitors to explore the technical manufacturing process.

all images courtesy of Katata Yoshihito

spatially translating the knife brand’s values

Spatially translating the knife brand’s values and characteristics, creative consulting and design firm Katata Yoshihito Design’s material palette comprises steel frames, wood wool boards, and corrugated panels to echo those used in TOJIRO’s main factory space in Tsubame City. This is enhanced by the integration of various grey tones which work to spotlight the products themselves while unifying the two divided zones and establishing a sense of cohesiveness.

Designed to house various functions, the gallery’s kitchen studio engages in a clean and sharp aesthetic where visitors are invited to partake in cooking classes and also experience the products first-hand. In the maintenance room, customers can experience a factory-like ambience and learn more about TOJIRO,

project info:

name: TOJIRO Knife Gallery
designer: Yoshihito Katata

location: Tokyo, Japan

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom

Reference

Tokyo

Karimoku Case lines minimalist Tokyo apartment with local wood

Keiji Ashizawa adds “residential calm” to Aloop clinic in Ginza

kengo kuma’s tokyo café reuses shrine materials for origami facade

kengo kuma revives traditional craft and materials

learning from the heritage of tokyo

the folded facade in green and blue

Keiji Ashizawa Design and Norm Architects create Trunk Hotel in Tokyo

internal system of partitions and openings revives apartment in tokyo

HAMS and, Studio’s One Nuance rearranges apartment’s layout

subtle textures and unified color palette adorn the living space

kengo kuma’s ‘kiki’s museum of literature’ soon to open in tokyo

kengo kuma unveils ‘kiki’s museum of literature’

inspired by the worlds of eiko kadono

five wooden house-shaped volumes compose nursery school in tokyo

himawari nursery school reimagines early childhood education

nursery school becomes a dynamic playground

House-Shaped Volumes Embrace a Child-Friendly Atmosphere

membrane roof casts a soft glow over two-story house in tokyo

house with a membrane roof in tokyo, japan

changing lights inform about outdoor conditions

Tile-clad Tokyo toilets are drenched in bright green and yellow light

katata yoshihito’s exhibition-like gallery showcases knives in tokyo

katata yoshihito design unveils tojiro knife gallery

spatially translating the knife brand’s values

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