Category — cool spaces

Ichiro Katami of Kata Inc. – one of the masterminds whose designs ignited the café boom in Tokyo – has completed his latest project. What can only be an homage to the great Mexican painter Diego Rivera, Diego by the River (Google Map) opened in Enoshima on May 1st.

It’s situated at the mouth of Sagami Bay and overlooks the water, as well as Enoshima. Bring your doggy because the stylish café has a pet-friendly terrace.

Related:

• Public Diner by Ichiro Katami

Continuing on with my series of green posts this week, I give you: more illustrations. The faux-French Japanese select shop Adam et Rope, managed by high-end clothing line operator JUN Group, recently remodeled their Shirogane location. Shirogane is a ritzy, residential neighborhood in Tokyo with an abundance of greenery as the land once belonged to the royal family. It is also home to several select shops and restaurants that cater to wealthy women who like to drop $400 on a t-shirt.

Last Friday the company unveiled an extravagant facelift for their 20-year old Shirogane store. The remolding, dubbed “biotop” – an area where sustained environmental conditions allows all living things to coexist – is equipped with everything from a tree house to an organic café.

The lineup of names is also impressive. The tree house was built by clothing buyer turned professional tree house builder Takashi Kobayashi. The café is the work of famed restaurateur Uichi Yamamoto who, along with Ichiro Katami, helped engineer Japan’s café boom. The creative director is Takashi Kumagai, whose name, as a photographer, has been plastered all over Japan’s top selling magazines. They have even retained a “green coordinator,” Hiroshi Kobayashi, who has done flower arrangements for all sorts of advertisements, magazines and even CD covers.

in-progress shots of the tree house being installed

Admittedly, other than Uichi Yamamoto – who I covered – each of these individuals are so active in their respective space that they deserve their own post. Maybe…. I can find time…

Construction has begun on Ryuichi Ashizawa’s Forest Nursery, a magical space for youngsters to grow and learn. The structure was designed to incorporate the preexisting trees that claim the site. The keystone of the 4-floor structure will be a multipurpose room that visually and physically links all the other compartments, each which will have their own age-appropriate purpose. It looks amazing and I can’t wait to see it completed!…which, of course, I will keep you posted on.

Forget my kids! I want to go there!

click images to enlarge

Japanese architectural firm Ninkipen recently completed Cucchiaio, a new Italian restaurant in Osaka. The name means Spoon in Italian, so we have something in common.

The interior and exterior combine wood, metal and white to create a sophisticated atmosphere that seems to be consistent with their high-end Italian dishes. If the interior shots don’t move you, perhaps a look at their food will make you want to go?

If you happen to be in a romantic and inconspicuous mood, a combination I can’t say I encounter often, head over to Roku Nana, a new secret bar that just opened up in Roppongi. Nestled between buildings, Roku Nana made claim to the 3rd floor and a strategically situated rooftop that affords views of Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Tower. Literally 6 7, the bar takes its name from the address (Roppongi 7th ward), the only thing that will help you find the place because there are no signs. Just an address and telephone number.

Roku Nana was designed by Yasumichi Morita whose firm Glamorous, if the name didn’t tip you off, has a taste for flamboyant décor that straddles a delicate balance between classy and corny. The bar is a follow-up to imoarai, his previous secret bar in Roppongi.

Verde Roppongi 3F
7-16-11 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Tel：03-6438-9915

How cool is this new shop in the Marunouchi area by Tokyo Station!? I was just in this area a few months ago but this shop must have still been under construction. Designed by interior design and architecture firm Wonderwall, Pass The Baton is a vintage shop that derives its name from the concept of passing things on from one generation to the next.

The whole store is beautifully decked out with antique furniture, recycled consumables and 2nd hand chotchkies. Take note of the custom-chandelier made out of recycled martinelli’s apple juice bottles pictured below. An awesome concept, magnificently executed. As of now this is the first and only shop but I expect to see more locations in the future.

So, as fate should have it, Akira Minagawa, designer of the faux-Finnish Japanese label Minä Perhonen, recently collaborated on a new store in Amsterdam and guess what it’s called? Of course, “Tamago”. Of all the nerve, Akira had to go and bite my style! I’m just kidding Akira. I love the name and I think your new store looks fantastic. I also think you, me and Jurgen Lehl should sit down for lunch one afternoon.

all images courtesy of Jane Wheeler, whose lovely garments can also be found at Tamago.

(thanks Jane!)

Related:
Jurgen Lehl | 1002 Spoons
minä perhonen | arkistot

This is a follow up to my previous post on the Inujima Art Project.
I ♥ Yu (yu means hot water, or bath) is a new hot bath opening up on the island of Naoshima, which neighbors Inujima. It was conceptualized by artist  Shinro Ohtake and it sounds like it’s turning out to be one hell of a hot bath. They hired graf for the architectural component and botanical artist Makoto Azuma as the landscape designer. The bath, which is set to open later this month, will also incorporate abstract objects that Ohtake has collected during his many trips, domestically and abroad, as well as 3D drawings by the artist himself!

Here are some sneak peaks courtesy of Azuma’s blog:

Related:

• Shinro Ohtake at the Setouchi Art Festival
• Azuma Makoto

Have you ever been to the Hakone Open Air Museum? I went once when I was small and loved it! And now is a better reason than ever to plan a day trip, especially if you have kids. Early last month Tezuka Architects unveiled their latest work, Net Forest. Comprised of over 500 wooden logs, the kids space is a feat of engineering that utilizes traditional interlocking architecture instead of metal. There hasn’t been a new kids space in over 15 years so this is definitely worth checking out.

in progress images courtesy of Tezuka Architects
completed images courtesy of Hakone Open Air Museum & Tis Partners

Japanese architect Yasutaka Yoshimura recently completed Nowhere But Hayama, one out of 3 locations of a new seaside resort known as Nowhere Resort, situated on the Western coastline of the Izu Peninsula. Nowhere But Hayama opened earlier this year following Nowhere But Zushi. The last location, Nowhere But Sajima is slated to open later this year. The pictures look great! And this is right by the ocean?? Sign me up!

Nice to see projects like this developing an English interface as well.