Japan is a hot-bed of out-of-the-box creativity and retail design is one of the areas in which it excels. The latest store with more is the new Patrick Cox boutique in Tokyo’s Aoyama district, a mecca for fashion.
Local architect Chikara Ohno designed the store using only three elements – the colour white, the circle shape and lighting – to great effect. Forming a canopy, huge, cylindrical pendants hang from the ceiling resembling imposing sculptures that also illuminate the products perched just below on cylindrical counters, lit from their bases.
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Ohno’s design demonstrates the power of simplicity. By working with a few key elements and playing around with proportion he has achieved a dramatic space that also stays true to its function – which is of course to cast the merchandise in the best possible light – pardon the pun – so we are compelled to buy it. – Lisa Evans
