Heritage Reimagined: Shinbashi Tamakiya’s New Era of Tsukudani Tradition

The redesign of Shinbashi Tamakiya's main store by Aioi Design explores the deep cultural significance of tsukudani while incorporating a modern design approach. This update positions the historic brand to appeal to a contemporary and discerning audience. The space features a minimalist yet dignified aesthetic, showcasing modern functionality and a profound respect for heritage. These elements reflect the brand's commitment to preserving traditional Japanese food culture.

Design Perspective

Aioi's innovative approach to the redesign of Shinbashi Tamakiya's main store is a departure from traditional tsukudani shop layouts. Instead of the typical dominant counters and brief customer interactions, the design embraces openness. It features strategically placed flat display fixtures that encourage a more dynamic, three-dimensional space exploration. This unique layout allows customers to linger and engage more deeply with Tamakiya's artisanal tsukudani offerings, creating a comfortable and contemplative environment. The store design uses understated materials and a neutral colour palette, invoking a sense of calm and reflecting the simplicity of Japanese aesthetics. This ensures that the store feels serene and uncluttered while drawing attention to the meticulously arranged products.

A notable addition is a dining space within the retail environment, which is an uncommon feature for a Tsukudani specialty store. This area allows customers to sample dishes that highlight tsukudani as a central ingredient, providing a unique opportunity to experience this traditional food's versatility and rich flavors. This "living display" of Japanese culinary heritage transforms the store into a multisensory journey, bridging Tamakiya's historical past with the evolving tastes of today's clientele.

Business and Cultural Value

For a brand like Shinbashi Tamakiya, this redesign reinforces its role as a custodian of cultural tradition. Highlighting tsukudani, a preserved food, is a significant choice—it embodies Japan's values of sustainability, resourcefulness, and reverence for nature. The design aims to introduce this craft to a new generation, serving as a business strategy and a cultural statement. It allows the brand to attract a broader demographic, including younger consumers and international visitors unfamiliar with tsukudani. This emphasis on business and cultural value will leave the audience feeling confident about the brand's future and its commitment to cultural preservation.

By incorporating educational elements and an experiential tasting room, Tamakiya positions tsukudani as an ingredient that bridges traditional and modern culinary worlds. This approach not only fosters cultural value but also stimulates business growth. The blend of functionality and brand impression is crafted to create a memorable, immersive experience that reflects Aioi's vision of transmitting Japanese food culture to future generations. These educational elements will leave customers feeling informed and enlightened about the cultural significance of tsukudani.

As Tamakiya steps into a new era, the store's design embodies both respect for its rich past and a steadfast commitment to a sustainable, culturally enriched future. The result is a space that is as timeless as it is forward-thinking—a reflection of Japanese heritage reimagined for a world that values authenticity, tradition, and innovation equally.

For more information, please visit: https://aioi-design.jp/

*This project is one of the shortlisted project in the Sky Design Awards 2024 - Interior Design - Retail Design Division

Designer Profile

Revolutionizing Healthcare Design: The Laminaesculapian’s Striking Fusion of Form and Function

The Laminaesculapian, designed by KTX archived, is the new building for Himeji Daiichi Hospital. It replaces the old structure from the 1960s, which no longer meets earthquake resistance standards. The new facility aims to move away from hospitals' traditional monolithic look while still being highly functional for healthcare.

The hospital is located along Japan's busy national road No. 2, presenting a striking visual of the urban landscape. Its north facade, the largest side, features a sleek design with irregularly shaped window openings that introduce a playful rhythm. This is contrasted by the sharp angles forming an 'open book' effect on the eastern side, which marks the main entrance. The 'open book' effect refers to the design's resemblance to an open book, with the sharp angles creating a sense of movement and inviting visitors into the hospital. This architectural choice softens the building's imposing presence, a thoughtful consideration that balances its size and function with aesthetic appeal, a feature that the audience will surely appreciate.

The hospital is designed to efficiently accommodate the flow of patients and staff. The ground floor features a spacious reception area that is well-lit with natural light, thanks to large windows that connect it to the outdoors. This layout continues on the subsequent floors, with dedicated areas for emergency care, medical imaging, dialysis, and surgical procedures. Inpatient rooms come in four-bed and single-bed configurations, and each floor is colour-coded to aid wayfinding and provide a distinct identity. The upper floors house rehabilitation spaces, offices, and facilities for both staff and patients. The top-level culminates in a versatile multi-purpose space, which can be used for [specific uses], demonstrating the hospital's adaptability and commitment to providing a comprehensive healthcare experience.

The Laminaesculapian is more than just a building. It's a testament to a patient-centric approach in healthcare architecture. KTX archiLAB has integrated modern healthcare needs with a patient-centric environment, blending form and function to redefine the typical hospital experience. The dynamic design elements challenge the conventional boxy hospital structure, creating a space that is not only welcoming and efficient but also reassuring. The hospital is designed with the best interests of the patients in mind, instilling confidence in the audience about the hospital's design.

"The Laminaesculapian marries form and function to redefine what a hospital can be. It blends the rigidity of healthcare with a sensitivity to human experience, light, and movement, setting a new standard for how healthcare facilities can engage aesthetically and functionally with their surroundings."

For more information, please visit: http://ktx.space/

KTX archiLAB

*This project is one of the shortlisted project in the Sky Design Awards 2024 - Architecture DivisionDesigner Profile

KTX archiLAB is an architectural and interior design office based in Japan. Specialized in commercial and medical design, its portfolio includes a wide range of projects: Hospitality, retail, showrooms, offices, hospitals, clinics, and more. KTX archiLAB has received more than a hundred and sixty local and international awards for its projects conducted both in Japan and abroad.

Timeless Tradition Meets Modern Minimalism: DOT Design’s Exhibition Hall for BORCCI

DOT Design's exhibition hall for BORCCI Kitchen Cabinets at the 2022 China International Building Decoration Fair (Shanghai) offers an immersive journey through art, culture, and sustainability. The space, inspired by the elegance of traditional Chinese gardens, aims to provide an experience of 'changing scenery with every step,' engaging visitors in a seamless blend of artistry, leisure, and amusement within a refined, contemporary framework.

The hall, with its distinct oriental classical charm on the outside, sets the stage for a truly unique experience inside. The interior, in contrast, exudes minimalist sophistication. It employs a restrained colour palette with white walls, floors, and furnishings, creating a serene backdrop that accentuates the brand's product colours. This simplicity is a deliberate choice, echoing the beauty of ancient aesthetics while providing a contemporary space for contemplation.

The design's central concept is a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. Drawing inspiration from the enduring beauty of China's water towns, DOT Design reimagines these iconic landscapes through simplified architectural forms. The hall becomes a 'four-dimensional space of art,' where traditional elements such as raised ridges, whitewashed walls, bamboo groves, and stone formations are seamlessly integrated, fostering a harmonious dialogue between the past and present.

"This project is a profound exploration of Chinese cultural heritage. The design embodies the Suzhou Garden philosophy of "changing scenery with every step," creating a series of interconnected yet distinct spaces that invite visitors to discover something new at every turn. This spatial narrative honours tradition and aligns with modern environmental concerns by adhering to low-carbon and recycling principles."

The exhibition hall is meticulously designed with sustainability at its core. It comprises six modular sections: living room, kitchen, dining room, bedroom, dressing room, and e-sports room. Each section is crafted for easy disassembly and reusability in future exhibitions, reassuring visitors of our commitment to reducing the environmental footprint. This approach not only showcases a forward-thinking design but also strikes a balance between form, function, and responsibility.

To further emphasize its commitment to eco-consciousness, the hall's minimalist interior and exterior decor use environmentally friendly coatings. This design choice subtly connects the products to the overall spatial composition, embodying the brand's ethos of simplicity and balance. The exhibition's theme, "Art Gallery of Wu Wei," meaning non-interference, is brought to life through its tranquil, nature-infused spaces, inviting visitors to embrace a calm, harmonious lifestyle.

By blending traditional Chinese elements with modern design innovation, DOT Design has not only created a space that reflects cultural reverence but also presents a bold vision of the future. This innovative approach is a true testament to the power of thoughtful, sustainable design, inspiring all who experience it.

*This project is one of the shortlisted project in the Sky Design Awards 2024 - Interior Design: Institution Division

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Yue Pan

Designer Profile

Yue Pan

Registered Senior Interior Designer, Registered Senior Engineer

Education:

Master's degree in spatial planning and design at Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy

Master's degree in Art, Design and Design at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, Italy

Current:

DOT Founder/Design Director of DESIGN

Experience:

"Champion's New Home" by Wu Minxia's specially invited designer

"Su Shen's New Home" Invited Designer by Su Bingtian's Home

Specially invited designer for Beijing TV's "Warm New Home" program

Specially invited designer by Tencent Video for the "Craftsman Becomes a New Home" program

DOT DESIGN is a high-end professional interior space planning and design performance firm established in 2007, founded by renowned domestic senior interior designer Rudy Pan. Advocate for integrated spatial design services in professional services, providing integrated design solutions from early visual communication, architectural optimization, interior design, landscape design, lighting design, display art, product design, and structural optimization to ensure the final aesthetic presentation of the project.

Bird Water Tower: FLIP Studio's Bold Revival of Industrial Heritage and Art at Shanghai's M50 Creative Park

Located in the northwest corner of Shanghai's M50 Creative Park, a hub for contemporary art and design, the Bird Water Tower is a captivating blend of the old and the new. Standing next to Heatherwick Studio's famous 1000 Trees, this historic water tower has existed for over fifty years. Previously owned by the well-known artist and curator Bing Su, the tower was unused for many years until FLIP Studio converted it into a vibrant venue for modern art and social gatherings.

"The renovation of the Bird Water Tower offers an exploration of temporal layers. Visitors can physically and metaphorically navigate through Shanghai's industrial past while being immersed in modern artistic expression. FLIP Studio's design approach embraces the structure's worn and weathered character while introducing a new architectural language that engages with the old."

Outdoor Experience: A Gateway Between Eras

The journey starts in the outdoor area, where FLIP Studio has skillfully incorporated a network of platforms, bridges, and stairways to create an architectural promenade leading to the tower. These new pathways are marked by black-rusted steel handrails and balustrades, clearly distinguishing between old and new while maintaining a respectful enclosure. These changes serve as connectors and indicate the visitor's transition into a redefined space where history meets innovation.

Dual Interiors: Raw Elegance Meets Refined Modernity

The interior of the Bird Water Tower has been divided into two distinct spaces: one square and the other rectangular, each offering a unique spatial experience. A narrow outdoor terrace acts as a slender seam, joining the two spaces while providing a brief breath of fresh air between the roughness of the past and the precision of contemporary design.

FLIP Studio chose to reveal the structure's raw, industrial character in the square hall. Exposed dark gray cement walls bear the scars of time, with traces of demolished interior partitions intentionally left visible. A boldly inserted black-painted OSB coffee bar creates a monolithic "black box" that contrasts sharply with the gritty backdrop. The pink neon lighting adds a surreal, almost cinematic atmosphere, blurring the lines between the industrial heritage and the contemporary art world.

The rectangular hall contrasts with subtler gestures. A white box has been carefully placed in this space, covering two-thirds of the height and leaving the original ceiling exposed. The contrast between new and old is more noticeable in this room, especially where the white box meets the existing brick walls, terrazzo cladding, and exposed structural elements. These layers are revealed like an "architectural anatomy," a concept that aims to showcase the building's structural elements and materials, reminiscent of Gordon Matta-Clark's work, where cut walls and raw materials evoke a dialogue between past and present.

Art and Space: A Curatorial Journey

Art plays a crucial role in guiding visitors through the tower. Strategic placement of installations, graffiti, paintings, and video art punctuate the spatial experience. Key pieces act as navigational markers along the circulation path. An example of this is the untouched wall along the newly inserted staircase, where a live graffiti performance brought the raw energy of street art into the space during the pre-opening phase.

A polished metal plate suspended at the tower's base adds another dimension to the curation. This surface is a canvas for projected digital art, creating a fluid, ever-changing dialogue between physical architecture and ephemeral media.

A Beacon of Light and Art

The Bird Water Tower becomes a glowing beacon in the quiet M50 Creative Park at night. It is adorned with vibrant neon lights and dynamic projections, making it a lighthouse from another dimension. The interplay of light, shadow, and art creates an inviting space where time feels suspended, and the boundaries between past and future dissolve.

The revival of the Bird Water Tower is a testament to Shanghai's industrial heritage and an experiment in the intersection of architecture, art, and urban regeneration. FLIP Studio's sensitive yet inventive intervention has transformed this once-abandoned space into a landmark of creative expression that encourages exploration, contemplation, and conversation.

Project Name：M50 Bird Water Tower

Project Location：Shanghai, China

Lead Designer: Kailun Sun

Area：230㎡

Design Team：Zixuan Chen

Photo：Fangfang Tian

Completion：2023.08

For more information, please visit: www.flip-studio.com

*This project is one of the shortlisted project in the Sky Design Awards 2024 - Architecture Division

Above the City, Into Nature: TENBOU-PARK's Innovative Fusion of Greenery and Views

Perched atop Ikebukuro’s Sunshine 60, TENBOU-PARK stands as a unique reimagining of urban spaces. It seamlessly merges panoramic views with tranquillity, offering a green escape in place of a bustling observatory. Nomura Co., Ltd. has crafted this 2023 project to redefine the observation deck’s purpose, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a nature-inspired, biophilic environment over 220 meters above Tokyo.

From a design perspective, the project aimed to create a serene fusion between the indoors and the cityscape beyond. The soft, undulating synthetic grass mounds evoke the rolling greenery of outdoor parks, instilling a sense of calm within an otherwise industrial space. The grass flows through the observation floor, visually extending the park beyond the building’s glass walls and inviting the eye toward the sweeping skyline views. In doing so, TENBOU-PARK challenges traditional observation deck design, which typically focuses solely on visual spectacle.

The integration of bespoke furniture, intentionally diverse in shape and material, provides visitors with spaces to sit and relax, interact with the space, and reinforce the park's organic, tactile qualities. Positioned to allow quiet moments of reflection, the furniture turns the observatory into a destination for introspection and calm—a design strategy that is both practical and philosophical, engaging visitors in a thoughtful exploration of the space.

Designing an indoor park high above the city speaks to a more significant trend in contemporary architecture: a desire to humanize urban environments, particularly in spaces that could otherwise feel disconnected or overwhelming. By embedding nature-inspired elements in such a high-density urban setting, the design offers an emotional and psychological counterbalance to the fast-paced energy of Tokyo below. TENBOU-PARK transforms the observation deck into a sensory experience that is both visually and emotionally restorative. This is a forward-thinking approach to public space design, which prioritizes [specific aspects of the design philosophy or process].

This fusion of innovative architecture and human-centric design offers a new way to view the city and a new way to experience high-rise living, creating an urban sanctuary in the sky.

Guided by Light: Destiny Wedding Office's Sculptural Journey of Hope and Attraction

Destiny Wedding Office is notable for its contemporary Chinese design, which skillfully incorporates light and gravity as aesthetic and symbolic elements. The project, led by GODOT DESIGN, redefines spatial storytelling focusing on attraction, connection, and emotional resonance. It represents a forward-thinking interpretation of architecture that goes beyond mere function, embodying the essence of modern Chinese design by blending abstract concepts with tangible forms to create environments that inspire and enhance experiences.

As you step into the space, the converging walls guide your gaze to a skylight, creating a serene canyon-like impression. This narrow 'strip of skylight' not only enhances the space's height but also introduces a soft, textured surface that feels both natural and intentional. As visitors transition from the outdoor public area, the ambiance shifts to a more tranquil, meditative state, fostering a sense of calm and relaxation. A strip of light embedded in the floor acts as the space's centrepiece, maintaining a harmonious visual balance and guiding visitors through this journey of light.

The reception hall's design ingeniously harnesses the concept of gravity as a force that unites, mirroring how the Destiny Wedding brand draws couples for their significant life events. The ceiling appears to be pulled downward, evoking a sense of dynamic energy and attraction. Below it, a reception desk with a texture reminiscent of travertine is strategically positioned, allowing the gravitational force above to be the room's focal point. A half-height light wall behind the desk completes the spatial energy, serving as a backdrop that accentuates the attraction.

The office's layout is defined by an arched, trumpet-shaped wall that creates a smooth flow. A glass partition adds light and transparency, blurring the line between virtuality and reality. The office cleverly uses upper and lower tiers to maximize space. To address variations in floor height, a cylindrical element runs through the corridor, creating a "channel within a channel" while maintaining a seamless exterior facade. An opening at the top allows for vertical interaction between the floors, enhancing the sense of openness.

The design features a suspended acrylic triangular cone mirrored on the ceiling, serving as the focal point of the passage. By day, it reflects the cityscape, while it transforms into a glowing starburst at night. Illuminated by soft lighting, it symbolizes the essence of thea Destiny Wedding brand—a guiding light of hope and connection for couples embarking on the most romantic journey. Through this space, light defines form and embodies the promise of a shared future.

*This project is one of the shortlisted project in the Sky Design Awards 2024 - Interior Design: Office & Commercial Division