LIAEC
SP156
OP

PRINT
ONLINE
SOCIALIN IN
PRINT• ONLINE• SOCIAL==E
SU
IS

Rivistainternazionale
Rivistainternazionale
di arredamento
di arredamento
e innovazione
e innovazione
puntovenditadel delpunto
venditaSH
RO
EU

international
TheTheinternationalmagazinemagazineshop
furnishingof ofshop
furnishinginnovation
andandinnovation• Year 27 March / April 2020

155 Year 27 January / February 2020

ISSN 2284-0702
ISSN 2284-0702

00156

00155

SACRAMENTO VAULT

ABDUL HALDER

VERALAB flagship store
in Milan
FLAGHIP
STORE
Design Studio
23bassi Design Studio
Pantone Collective

RETAIL DESIGNNIWAKA Tokyo, Ginza
Ginza flagship store of NIWAKA, luxury jeweler from Kyoto
Interior design by GARDE Co., Ltd.
GARDE Co., Ltd., a branding and designcompany with a reputation for a wide
variety of space designs in sectors suchas retail, hospitality, large-scale commercial
facilities, residences, offices, etc., worked on
the general, structural, and interior designof the large NIWAKA jewelry flagship store
recently opened in Ginza, Tokyo.
Coordinating with NIWAKA’s creative teamin the process, GARDE’s main duties wereto provide drafting, technical verification,material proposals, basic planningconsultations, and more.
Making use of cutting-edge technology
and a wide range of knowledge gainedby working on numerous projects aroundthe world, GARDE helped express thephilosophy and worldview of a jeweler
from Kyoto, with a special focus on
incorporating local materials sourcedin Japan.

50

Befitting a place where you can experience the fantastic world of NIWAKA jewelry,
NIWAKA’s new concept store in Ginza isan extraordinary space that reinterprets
Japanese motifs in a modern way, reflecting the jeweler’s future vision of globalexpansion. This original expression ofclassic design styles embodies the spiritof tradition and innovation that NIWAKA
has inherited from its birthplace of Kyoto.
The exterior of the building is inspired bywisteria flowers, evoking the image of atiered wisteria trellis through a wavy meshstructure that covers the outer walls of thesix-floor building. The flowers themselves arerepresented by abstract bundles of lightthat appear to sway gently in the wind.
The interior design of the store has a different theme for each floor, boldly incorporating traditional Japanese architecturalfeatures like latticework and sliding paper
doors into modern design.

51A floor expressing the wisteria trellis with
dazzling crystals
The 4th floor once again highlights the overarching theme of wisteria that inspired the Ginza
Store, with approximately 600 crystal strands inthe shape of wisteria flowers sparkling elegantly
overhead against a rich purple ceiling.
Natural, untreated wooden floors and walls ina more Eastern design blend seamlessly with
the Western touches brought by crystal, creating a very luxurious modern Japanese style bycombining dissimilar materials and elements.
The back wall of the showroom is done in
the traditional yoroibari (“clinker building”)
architectural style, which utilizes slightly overlapping panels of natural wood and diffusedlighting to add depth to the space.
A fantastic Kyoto-style pathway that invites
you to the world of high jewelry
The 5th floor is designed exclusively to showcase
NIWAKA’s high jewelry collections. When you
step off the elevator, a kyo-koji (Kyoto alley) islaid out in front of you, with a Nishijin brocade
textile woven with opal threads as the focal
point at the end. The sides of the path are
created by folding handmade Japanesewashi paper to give the impression of abamboo grove through the play of light andshadow. Beyond this grove of light are threeprivate rooms, each with its own chic design,where clients with reservations can explore
the charms of NIWAKA’s high jewelry.

A comfortable space harmonizing thetraditional and modern
As you step into the store, the first thing tocatch your eye is a fine mesh chandelier
shining white in the center of the darkcoffered ceiling. With an emphasis on theuse of untreated wood, this warm space isan embodiment of Japanese hospitality.
The wisteria trellis theme from the exterior
continues here in the form of the chandelier
as well as the wooden walls, creating aluxurious and modern impression.
The 1st floor’s main showcase is decorated
with the same mesh material as the centerchandelier, and the interior of the case islined with brocade from Kyoto’s famous
Nishijin textile district. The coffered ceiling is
the type often found in historical Japanesebuildings, and various other traditional
design elements are scattered throughout.
The reception area is separated from themain store area by delicate metal blinds,
which helps create a relaxed atmosphere
within.
A calm space created by curved lines of lattice
The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors, dedicated to bridal jewelry, are designed to allow customers
to select their jewelry in comfort and to confer
with specialist staff in an open, airy space.
Large showcases are placed in the centerwith sets of tables and chairs arranged on
the sides, separated by screens for privacy.

52

NIWAKA Ginza store
Design NIWAKA
Architectural Design IAO TAKEDA ARCHITECTS ASSOCIATES
Construction TSUBOI Industry Company
Interior Design and Construction GARDE Co., Ltd.
Building Owner YASUDA REAL ESTATE Co., Ltd.

Each floor has a different interior design
theme that expresses Japanese elementswith luxury and style appropriate for such asophisticated space.
The 2nd floor is designed to highlightthe sort of latticework commonly usedby traditional Kyoto townhouses (kyo-machiya). Reinterpreting this familiar lattice as
curved rather than straight has opened up
new possibilities of interior design. On the ceiling, an artistic installation of Nishijin brocadewith a karahana flower pattern can be seen
through an undulating line of wooden slats.
Behind a wall of vertical latticework on the far
end of the showroom Kyoto’s Mt. Daimonji isdepicted with a purple gradient, giving
the impression that you are looking at
the famous scene just outside a window.
The customer consultation area seems
wrapped in wooden lattice, creating a
tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
A shoji-themed floor with a refreshing
purple and white contrast
The key element of the 3rd floor is shoji,sliding doors made of translucent paper
on wooden frames, so familiar to those whogrew up in Japanese homes. Against abackground of NIWAKA’s distinctive purple
brand color, various features evoking the shoji
construction create glowing white shapes,
placed in a perfect balance throughout the
space to create a modern design.

53

GARDEAn international branding and design company, GARDE designs
spaces in sectors such as retail, hospitality, large-scale commercialfacilities, residential and office facilities, and beyond. With a vast
global network, a team of talented designers, a deep insight into
diverse cultures, and cutting-edge knowledge of the latest trends, GARDE is able to support its clients’ design needs via threepillars of expertise: consulting, design, and coordination, creating
spaces that combine outstanding design and functionality. Thecompany is based in Tokyo with offices in Osaka, Hong Kong,
Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Milan, Paris, New York and Los
Angeles.
Lo Studio giapponese Garde, specializzato in interior design ebranding, opera nel settore del retail, per la realizzazione di uffici,abitazioni, hotel, ristoranti, nonchè di elaborate soluzioni per struttureurbane. Avvalendosi di un team di creativi con sedi a Tokyo, Osaka,Milano, Parigi, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur,New York, Los Angeles, sono in grado di soddisfare ogni richiesta conprofessionalità e competenza.

GARDE Shunji Sakuta
Brand Second Operations Division, Design Division, Chief Architect. Taking therole of the local architect for overseas luxury brands such as GUCCI andVALENTINO, Shunji Sakuta worked with the store planning department at theItalian headquarters and with design offices designated by the brands. He also
contributed to several flagship stores and shop-in-shop concepts. Proficientin coordinating with developers and general contractors in projects wherearchitectural and other regulations are strict, he worked as the local architect
for the GUCCI Ginza store, Shinjuku store, VALENTINO GINZA SIX store,etc. This time, he took charge of the NIWAKA Ginza Store’s interior design.
Shunji Sakuta, architetto capo di Garde
Si occupa principalmente di progettare boutique di marchi di moda come Gucci eValentino. Ha svolto la sua attività presso la sede italiana di Garde, adoperandosi alcoordinamento ed al completamento di punti vendita, flagship store e shop in shop.
Ha contribuito alla creazione di progetti per la boutique Gucci di Ginza, la boutique diShinjuku, la boutique Valentino Ginza Six, nonché alla definizione dell’interior designdella gioielleria Niwaka di Ginza.
GIOIELLERIA NIWAKA TOKYO GINZA
Il flagship store del brand di gioielli NIWAKA di Kyoto è stato
realizzato da GARDE Co., Ltd., lo Studio internazionale diinterior design che vanta progetti nel settore del retail ed
immobiliare, strutture ricettive e grandi aree commerciali.
Gli architetti di Garde, avvalendosi di competenze professionali ed innovative tecnologie, hanno progettato questa raffinata
gioielleria per NIWAKA. Il concept store, sviluppato in sinergìa
con la direzione artistica del brand giapponese, ha dato vita
ad una boutique a sei piani che incarna l’immagine e letradizioni tipiche del territorio asiatico. La facciata esterna sicaratterizza per i pannelli luminosi che, da cima a fondo, larivestono completamente, diffondendo e distribuendo effetti diluce in modo astratto, a ricordare i riflessi prodotti dal glicine:la pianta che simboleggia l’amicizia e la disponibilità.
Il layout di ogni piano è contraddistinto da un particolaretema di design che integra audacemente grafiche tradizionali
ed arredi dell’architettura giapponese.
Un ambiente accogliente dal design tradizionale econtemporaneo
La semplice geometria dell’ingresso introduce al primo piano:
caldo ed ospitale. Qui, prevalgono i toni chiari e scuri dei varimateriali naturali; notevole l’impiego di elementi di design
giapponese come i delicati separè e “shoji” (pergamenetraslucide su cornici reticolari) situati nell’area della reception;
originale è il soffitto a cassettoni, recuperato da un vecchio
edificio, dal quale emerge un lampadario con composizione di luci a canne asimmetriche che ricordano i racemi delglicine; l’illuminazione si concentra sulla sottostante vetrina
espositiva dalla base ondulata e dai piani rivestiti in tessuto
broccato di Kyoto Nishijin color glicine.

54

I tre successivi piani sono completamente dedicati ai gioielli
per il matrimonio: ampi e sofisticati spazi, ciascuno dal proprio
distinto design. La postazione centrale è occupata dalla
vetrina espositiva ai cui lati sono organizzati tavoli epoltroncine per le contrattazioni.
2° piano – uno spazio dalle grate in legno
Il secondo piano abbraccia lo stile “machiya”, cioè quellodelle tradizionali abitazioni in legno del Giappone. Gli internidi quest’area sono stati abilmente ricoperti dalle tipiche grate
in legno, a creare l’effetto ottico di separazione; questo motivo,
a sottili doghe ondulate, è stato usato anche per schermare
l’illuminazione centrale.
3°piano – contrasti di tinte bianche e viola
L’ambiente trasuda della classica architettura di interni
giapponese: bianchi e luminosi pannelli shoji (telai in legno
coperti di carta di riso) alle pareti si alternano a superfici
tinteggiate di viola.
4° piano – cascata di grappoli di gocce di cristallo
L’espressione del lusso giapponese si estrinseca nell’unione
di vari elementi e strutture in legno bianco magistralmenterischiarate dalla luce diffusa del sontuoso lampadario
composto da oltre 600 pendenti in cristallo lilla.
5° piano – il mondo dell’alta gioielleria
L’ambiente ispirato alla foresta di bambù di Kyoto, è qui
riprodotto dal mix di pareti di carta giapponese ripiegata amano e pareti in tessuto broccato Nishijin; accanto all’area
centrale sono stati ricavati tre salottini destinati a trattative
private dei più esclusivi gioielli Niwaka. •55