Thisispaper Community
Join today.
Enter your email address to receive the latest news on emerging art, design, lifestyle and tech from Thisispaper, delivered straight to your inbox.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Instant access to new channels
The top stories curated daily
Weekly roundups of what's important
Weekly roundups of what's important
Original features and deep dives
Exclusive community features
Hitoshi Arato
Dec 14, 2022

LoHA design studio, led by Hiroshi Yamada, and Toshitaka Shimizu renovate the interior of a building in Katsuyama City, Japan, originally designed by Arata Isozaki in 1985.

The exposed concrete frame (1050mm grid and ceiling dome) with the strong formality of the existing Isozaki architecture is likened to "heaven", and the activities of people under it are likened to "earth".

Following the architect’s design principles, the project adjusts slight modifications to the interior, opting for a flexible product display with soft variabilities, such as scarves and miscellaneous goods that appear floating in the room. The refurbishment sets up a large table that can be recombined and round rings on the wall for hanging wires.

Architects have tuned the surface so that the existing frame and products such as scarves coexist, such as repainting the existing fixture counter, reupholstering the floor, and finishing new fixtures.

Lauan veneer, a material that easily deteriorates over time, coats various surfaces in the interior inviting guests to touch it, sit on it, or feel a sense of physical scale. The counter door between the exposed gray concrete wall and the soft tile carpet floor lays on a speaker saran that mediates conflicting textures facing the composition of the marble wall standing opposite. The soft moss-like tile carpet is laid between the concrete forms. The gray hues of both the rough and soft surfaces of the hall make the colorful scarves stand out. Several round rings attached to the wall are set up as a device to stretch wires and form a hanging system for the showcase of the products.

No items found.
Join +
We love less
but there is more.
Become a Thisispaper+ member today to unlock full access to our magazine, advanced tools, and support our work.
Travel Guides
Submission Module
Print Archive
Curated Editions
+ more
Buy now
No items found.
Hitoshi Arato
Dec 14, 2022

LoHA design studio, led by Hiroshi Yamada, and Toshitaka Shimizu renovate the interior of a building in Katsuyama City, Japan, originally designed by Arata Isozaki in 1985.

The exposed concrete frame (1050mm grid and ceiling dome) with the strong formality of the existing Isozaki architecture is likened to "heaven", and the activities of people under it are likened to "earth".

Following the architect’s design principles, the project adjusts slight modifications to the interior, opting for a flexible product display with soft variabilities, such as scarves and miscellaneous goods that appear floating in the room. The refurbishment sets up a large table that can be recombined and round rings on the wall for hanging wires.

Architects have tuned the surface so that the existing frame and products such as scarves coexist, such as repainting the existing fixture counter, reupholstering the floor, and finishing new fixtures.

Lauan veneer, a material that easily deteriorates over time, coats various surfaces in the interior inviting guests to touch it, sit on it, or feel a sense of physical scale. The counter door between the exposed gray concrete wall and the soft tile carpet floor lays on a speaker saran that mediates conflicting textures facing the composition of the marble wall standing opposite. The soft moss-like tile carpet is laid between the concrete forms. The gray hues of both the rough and soft surfaces of the hall make the colorful scarves stand out. Several round rings attached to the wall are set up as a device to stretch wires and form a hanging system for the showcase of the products.

Architecture
section is proudly under the patronage of:
John Pawson

Independent publications like Thisispaper rely on support by readers and companies to be sustainable.

Current patron of Architecture Section:

If you are ready to book a slot, please use the following link:
Become a Patron

Introducing OS
An intimate space which helps creative minds thrive.
Discover. Share. Embrace.
Thisispaper Shop
Shop Now
Thisispaper+Guides
Discover the most inspiring places and stories through carefully-curated travel guides.
Explore all GuidesExplore channels