WorksUrban& Retail

Opened in April 2024, ESPRIT C. KEI GINZA is a restaurant created by Chef Kei Kobayashi of the Parisian French restaurant "Restaurant KEI" and Toraya, a Japanese confectionery shop founded in the late Muromachi period. In Tokyo's Ginza district, where tradition and modernity coexist and diverse food cultures can be enjoyed, the aim was to create a restaurant that transcends the boundaries of French cuisine, pursuing innovation in gastronomy with free thinking and without any constraints. Not only the chefs, but everyone who works here learns and researches ingredients, sharing the essence of gastronomy with customers who visit, and hoping that not only the food, but the entire experience here will satisfy the hearts of the customers. ESPRIT C. KEI GINZA is, in a sense, a "gastronomic research institute" that embodies Chef Kei Kobayashi's vision. The restaurant consists of a main dining area with lively counter seating centered around an open kitchen, the heart of culinary creation, and tables covered in wood concept design, as well as a private room with a private kitchen designed to resemble a research institute. France is said to have a culture of stone, while Japan has a culture of wood. This restaurant blends the cultures of both countries, creating a new space where French and Japanese cultures meet in harmony with stone and wood. The ceiling concept design, which spans the entire floor, expresses tradition and innovation through a dynamic composition that changes from a traditional checkered pattern to an innovative cave-like installation.

This is a new style of bar created by Chef Kei Kobayashi and Saint-Louis, a French crystal house founded in 1586. Guests can enjoy the chef's creations of dishes and desserts along with drinks served in Saint-Louis crystal glasses, which are backed by tradition. The new bar style features a two-row layout created by the service staff and chef, and the custom-made counter made of Datekanmuri stone floats like a stage along with the cooking process. Terrace seating is planned at the back of the bar, with a raised garden based on a Japanese garden and a staircase leading to the rooftop, creating a three-dimensional concept design. In expressing the tradition and history of Saint-Louis and Toraya, two long-established brands representing Japan and France, the space is finished with a focus on authentic materials. The top of the first row of the counter is made of Jindai cedar, which is said to be a tree that has slept underground for more than 2000 years and fossilized, and the second row of the counter is made of Datekanmuri stone, which was also created by crustal movements over a long period of time. Where French and Japanese cultures meet, stone and wood harmonize in this space, and the sparkle of Saint-Louis crystals scattered throughout adds a touch of French spirit.

Kagaya is a renowned Japanese inn with its main branch located in Wakura Onsen, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture. In January 2024, Kagaya suffered extensive damage from an earthquake that struck off the coast of the Noto Peninsula. However, a pine tree stood tall at the entrance of the inn, undeterred by the disaster, and its majestic presence deeply moved people. Therefore, in creating this new store, we adopted the "pine tree," which is revered as an object of prayer in the Noto region, as concept design concept. On the counter ceiling in the center of the store, a design made of interwoven pine needles symbolically represents the pine tree reaching towards the heavens. The facade features concept design that represents pine needles reaching towards the Noto sky, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for visitors. Furthermore, the silver-threaded obi, which has been passed down through generations of female innkeepers, is displayed on a shelf behind the counter, and handcrafted items and works of art that have been passed down through generations at the inn are scattered throughout, carrying on the beauty and craftsmanship of Noto. We have created the store together with Kagaya, drawing parallels between their tradition, spirit of hospitality, and desire for a comeback, and the vitality and strength of the pine trees of Noto.

We were in charge of design, layout production, and construction of Mazda's manufacturer showroom in the Tokyo metropolitan area, aimed at allowing customers to experience and interact with the brand. The "TRANS" in "MAZDA TRANS AOYAMA" means "to change, to go beyond," and it embodies the meaning of "we want this to be a place that becomes a catalyst for positive change." The first floor is a special space where you can experience the brand, featuring a cafe and goods shop supervised by Itsuki Coffee, which was founded in Miyajima, Hiroshima, while the second floor is a comfortable space where art displays, events, and workshops can be held.

This project aims to revive the salon, a welcoming space within Kinokuniya Bookstore, on the top floor of their flagship Shinjuku main store building. When the building was constructed in 1964, founder Shoichi Tanabe created a salon that served as a social gathering place for literary figures. Over time, that space was lost, but in order to bring it back to life in the modern era, following the Shinjuku main store renovation that took place from 2021 to 2023, our company was in charge of design, layout, production, and construction for this new project.

Air Water Hokkaido's new facility, "Air Water Forest," is an open innovation facility that addresses social issues in order to realize a sustainable society and a safe, secure, and prosperous life. Within this facility, the restaurant and cafe "Eureka" was created as a place to disseminate and share "agriculture and food," one of the Air Water Group's initiatives. The space was designed in conjunction with the architectural concept design so that the facility's concept of "sustainable and prosperous living" can be felt even in the restaurant. Just like the name "Eureka" (meaning "I found it! I understand!" in ancient Greek), concept design allows customers to discover the rich land of Hokkaido and the true deliciousness of the ingredients nurtured by that land.

This project involves the complete renovation of the retail and environmental areas from the building's entrance to the lobby (grand hall) of the Takarazuka Grand Theater, which is celebrating its 111th anniversary. Based on the concept of "Dreams begin here," the aim was to create a space that would continue to deliver dreams to many customers and be loved by them, while carefully inheriting the charm of the Takarazuka Grand Theater that has been nurtured over the years. From the moment you step inside the building, you will be enveloped in the glamorous world of Takarazuka Revue, and the space will be an extraordinary and exhilarating experience that leads you to dreams and emotions. By unifying concept design of interiors environment and creating the world of Takarazuka Revue throughout the entire building, we planned a space that would make the time before and after the performance more comfortable, and that could be enjoyed by customers who are not attending a performance. By extracting motifs that represent "Takarazuka-ness" from elements of Takarazuka Revue's stages and shows, as well as the building of the Grand Theater, and reconstructing them as a modern concept design, we have created a space that will be loved even more by existing fans, and will also attract new fans, leading to an enhancement of the brand value that looks ahead to the future of Takarazuka Revue.

This is a project for the all-day dining restaurant "MONDO Sagami Ohno" that will open on the 7th floor of Odakyu Hotel Century Sagami Ohno. The restaurant will have a spacious space of over 666 square meters and a huge wood-fired oven, which will be the symbol of the restaurant "MONDO". Based on the theme of "from the mountain to the table", the restaurant will bring out the original flavor of the ingredients through wood-fired cooking, and serve simple and innovative flavors. Guests can casually enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, including a lunch buffet featuring carefully made handmade bread and steaks baked in a wood-fired oven. The restaurant will also feature "BAR ROJY", where you can casually enjoy authentic cocktails and rare old whiskeys, and "Kogasaka Bake Sagami Ohno", where you can purchase freshly baked bread and baked goods, proposing a free, warm and unique restaurant experience to the people of the city.

This project is a phased renewal project that will take place over a period of approximately three years from 2022 to 2024. This is the third phase, and involves renovating the 46th floor "SKY VIEW" and "Entrance," transforming the building into a place that will generate new excitement and interaction.

This project involves the renovation of a permanent, comprehensive sales gallery that serves as an information hub for "Gracia," a housing brand developed by Sotetsu Real Estate, allowing visitors to experience the brand's worldview through actual properties and videos. The Sotetsu Line, which has been rooted in and cherished by the Yokohama area, has been connected to the Tokyu Line with improved convenience, making it easier for customers living in the city center to visit. The gallery opened in Shin-Yokohama, which functions as a hub connecting Yokohama, the headquarters of Sotetsu Real Estate, with other prefectures. The facility includes a lounge where events can be held, a presentation room where visitors can experience each property in VR, and a concept room that expresses the "high quality" of the Gracia brand. Our company was in charge of interiors concept design, custom-made environmental features, and displays.

Cacao Tiegokaan visits cacao producing areas and works with cacao farmers to create chocolate from beans without compromise. The interior of the store is decorated with crushed cacao husk, the thin skin of cacao that is discarded during the chocolate manufacturing process. The chocolate carefully made from cacao fruit and the interior of the store, wrapped in cacao husk, resonate with each other, creating a special space where you can experience the charm of cacao with your whole body.

ZOE Ginza, a commercial building located along Ginza Namiki Street, has been in operation for 20 years since its completion, and this project involved a renovation plan. Our company was responsible for design, layout, and construction of the exterior, the first floor/elevator hall, and the environment on each floor.

This is the first drive-thru project in Asia, named "% ARABICA", located in a natural park in the center of Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), an artificial island in Jakarta, Indonesia, which is experiencing rapid development. The structure is composed of two different buildings intersecting with each other. One of the buildings has a round glass façade and a structure that has been stripped down to the bare minimum, which pursues a sense of openness and visual spaciousness, while creating an open space where the bustle of the store can be felt from the outside. In contrast, the other building is a closed space with a massive structure that provides privacy and facility functions, clearly organizing the roles of each building. The layout of the roasting room, coffee counter, and customer seats radiates from the center of the circle to the outside, allowing the baristas to have a view of the entire store while roasting and serving are the main focus. On the other hand, the line of sight from the guests is naturally directed toward the outside view, which is considered to prevent the lines of sight from meeting each other too much, providing a special time to enjoy coffee while looking at the lush natural park with a 360-degree panoramic view.

BLUE YARD is a multi-purpose establishment seamlessly connecting three types of businesses—dining, a cafe stand, and a record shop—located in "Balchika 03," a food and beverage zone within "Innogate Osaka," a station building directly connected to JR Osaka Station. In the dining area, customers can enjoy modern American-style cuisine, including meat dishes roasted on a roasting machine, and live performances are held irregularly on a center stage equipped with professional sound systems. A casual cafe stand and record shop are also located on the premises. Despite being a tenant in a station building, it boasts an area of over 200 tsubo (approximately 660 square meters), a seating layout that satisfies diverse needs throughout the day, and a spacious interior with a 4.8-meter high ceiling and panoramic views of the Umeda cityscape, creating a comfortable and high-quality entertainment space that combines convenience and sophistication. Our company was responsible for design, layout.

Our company was in charge of designing this antique watch specialty store, which has an attached repair workshop, located on Marunouchi Nakadori Street. Antique watches have been passed down through the ages, holding within them the memories and stories of their owners. As they embody the memories of bygone eras, they also weave stories for the future as they mark the passage of time. At CARESE Marunouchi, concept design theme is to visualize this invisible "time." The brass foil applied to the walls gradually changes color, drawing a parallel between the way brass changes its appearance over time and the passage of time in antique watches. In addition, stone is used for the central fixture, representing the process of polishing from its rough, natural state, and its rich texture also evokes a sense of "time" in the space. We aim for this store to be deeply etched in the memories of visitors amidst the sophisticated streetscape of Marunouchi.