The thin 33ft storefront of Toyo Ito’s design somehow displays its full magnificence as the entire body of this show-off store sparkles to catch the eye. While many glitzy stores on Tokyo’s Omotesando boulevard use glass curtain walls, this 2004 building assumes a distinct identity unto itself by forming a natural structure of concrete branches. Like a sponge or tree, these branches thin out at the top and glazing fits inbetween.
The visible structure separates spaces as it takes an experiential role. Daylight seeps through into the center, complimenting the store’s products.
(roryrory– flickr/creative commons license)
(japanese_craft_construction– flickr/creative commons license)
(japanese_craft_construction– flickr/creative commons license)
(Tim Brown Architects– flickr/creative commons license)
(Tim Brown Architects– flickr/creative commons license)
(diametrik– flickr/creative commons license)
(n1k01a– flickr/creative commons license)
