Japanese studio General Design have completed a tall narrow concrete flagship store with no windows for a clothing brand in Nagoya, Japan.
Called Lad Musician Nagoya, the building consists of an enclosed concrete box with three skylights in the roof.
The interior features three split levels and uses only three materials: concrete, oak and galvanised steel.
Photographs are by Daici Ano.
Here's some text from the architects:
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LAD MUSICIAN NAGOYA
We were approached by a prestigious apparel brand to design its new flagship store in Nagoya, Japan.
Conceptually, a concrete shell was created completely shutting out the sides while allowing its interior space to be filled with light by three skylights from above.
Intentionally playing with one’s visual perception, interior space transforms from a low ceiling-intimate space into a 10 meter-high space with soft light coming in from above. The stairs then leads to a fitting space on the top floor filled with light streaming down from the skylights.
Playing with light and shadow, the interior is designed to differentiate spaces with different degrees of lightness though the physical space itself is still perceived as a whole.
The building materials are intentionally limited to three: rough concrete, plain oak, and zinc-processed steel. Rough concrete is chosen over a smooth refined one because it gives a powerful feeling reminiscent of civil engineering work that has withstood the test of time.
Our design intention for this flagship store was to avoid a cosmetic approach of interior design by integrating more architectural concepts emphasizing beauty and strength of space and materials.
LAD MUSICIAN NAGOYA
LOCATION:NAKA-KU NAGOYA
SITE AREA:82.99m2
BUILT AREA:64.04m2
TOTAL FLOOR AREA:114.88m2
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM: REINFORCED CONCRETE
really like the concrete surface! raw n sensual!
the spice is nice too… looks very inspiring to me… only the artificial light is annoying… cant understand the light between floor and wall… so annoying
what an entrance!!!!! (third image)
Brutal. Interesting, though.
But it is not wheelchair accessible….
like the early Tadao Ando, very radical, harsh, yet appealing.
@Mystie
It’s Japan… They don’t care about it.
It’s still great a design.
harsh severe. would make a great dance club!
IS much of anything wheelchair accessible in Japan?
solitary jail cell
The Spirit & Atomsphere are very closed to Tadao Ando’s projects.
funereal.. i would live in it.. like a monks retreat
the indulgence of architects….is it there first time?
Powerfully innovative!
Wish all clients were this open-minded! I think this is great!
Uncomprimising, I like it.
by the way, not only it’s not wheelchair accessible, but the 2F stairs are quite steep! Look at the section.
concrete+concrete+concrete, it’s just a closed cube…intriguing.
Looks like an SM club from outside.
Where are the clothes by the way? I am really tired of all those Japanese projects with completely empty interiors.
if that was a jail.
i would confess to public urination any time
Great.
In Japan they would carry you upstairs if you come in a wheelchair.
That’s the greatest idea ever. They are selling the emperor’s clothes.
a beautiful project – well done. nicely managed sequence of spaces (including deliberately low entrance) within an austere shell. I like the recessed light detail – I’m sure it adds a lot at night.
Beautiful! I don’t even miss the windows…
Interior layout is AMAZING. But the sun is our friend. Why hate her light so?
the concrete work is superb!
very strong and uncompromising space…
i wonder how the space feels like when the shop put in their clothes and everything… squeeze people…
@th I wouldnt worrry they probably just display 2 socks and a t-shirt….
via holographic projection.
the japanese are CRAY-ZAY.
crazy awesome that is.
In Japan people in wheel chairs wouldn’t even be able to reach the store front, so if it’s accessible or not is a moot point.
I wonder about the insulation though. Oh, I forgot, this is Japan. We don’t do insulation here.
Beautiful building though.
The hard wood floor and underlighting are your only assurances that you are not to be interrogated.
what?
how do people make such bizzare comments!
its japan, buildings are small, you do sqeeze through stores, you do scale steep stair cases.
the light in this project is a miracle….architects are not indulging themselves, they are indulging anyone who walks into this building in a miracle!