photos by Shiori Kawamoto | click to enlarge
Discontinued and abandoned factories in Japan are being given a second life. Large companies like Toshiba and Fujitsu have been converting obsolete semiconductor factories into indoor gardens where they hope to turn lettuce into cash.
But it’s not only major corporations who can play this game. Earlier this month artist Takahashi Hiroko, a textile artist who has been broadening the boundaries of kimonos by incorporating geometric, black & white patterns into the traditional wear, announced that she had relocated into a renovated steel factory in Tokyo.
The space on the first floor serves as exhibition space, atelier, meeting room, and shop.
Located two minutes away from Oshiage station and situated nearby Tokyo Sky Tree, the new space officially opened on October 17. However, before it could open, several structural issues needed to be addressed. The original building, which was hastily constructed in the early 70s, was based on “quantity over quality,” explained Jo Nagasaka of Schemata Architects. “You can see various gaps and distortions all over the building.”
The large infra-free kitchen table, which is divided in two, is movable and adaptable to multiple purposes.
But instead of trying to fix all of the imperfections the artist and architects decided to accept the factory for what it was. “We intend to transform these gaps and distortions into unique spaces where one encounters unexpected experiences.” The result is a lovely interval between new and old and is quite fitting for an artist who is working with a traditional craft form in a new and exciting way.
Through November 15, 2014 Takahashi will be hosting “Renovation,” an exhibition of her latest kimonos there were inspired by her new space. Once the exhibition closes the showroom will resume normal hours and will be open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Holidays 11:00 – 20:00.
[TAKAHASHI HIROKO EXHIBITION -RENOVATION-]
10.17 – 11.15.2014
Takahashi Hiroko, Inc. 1st Floor
4-11-2 Narihara, Sumida-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
Exhibition hours: Monday to Wednesday 14:00-19:00/ Friday, Saturday and Public Holidays 11:00-20:00.
Regular hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Holidays 11:00 – 20:00.
The second floor is lined with tatami and equipped with mirrored walls intersecting in an L-shape.
The 2nd fl is mainly used for kimono fitting as well as accommodating various activities such as Rakugo (a traditional Japanese comedy performance.)
The third floor is Hiroko’s personal space, equipped with an office space for her computer work and a greenhouse where she grows edible plants.
Unfortunately this 3rd fl space is not open to the public
October 29, 2014 at 8:51 pm
This is awesome. Do you know if there are any before pictures of the factory?
October 30, 2014 at 11:19 am
@Jordan – good question! I poked around a bit but all I could find was google street view that shows construction.