All photos by courtesy NOSIGNER (Yuichi Hisatsugu)
For over 100 years, REN has operated a botanical specialty shop in Tokyo’s Mita district. Passed down through four generations, the family business has taken on several iterations but has always been grounded in the world of ikebana and plants. The current owner, botanical artist and designer Nobuaki Kawahara, recently relocated REN, which takes it’s name from the Japanese word for lotus, renovating a 55-year old building and creating the brand’s flagship location.
The new space was designed by Eisuke Tachikawa and his design firm Nosigner. Unlike typical florists who attempt to create psuedo-forests by filling their space with large quantities of plants, Nosigner focused on REN’s very honest relationship with plants.
“In designing such a space, we sought a way to accentuate the beauty of each plant, like in flower arrangement,” says the team. They designed a modular shelving system featuring circular shelves that can be adjusted depending on the plants being displayed, likening the space to a singular vase.
The circular plates are also a nod to REN’s practice and philosophy of the circular economy of plants, building sustainable relationships between humans and ornamental plants, and regenerating dying plants. REN sells plants but they also offer consultation services for a number of needs such as plant care, replanting and even styling.
REN
2-17-32 mita minato-ku tokyo (google map)
Hours: 11AM – 7PM
Hours may vary so contact them or check their blog if you plan on visiting.
