Japanese architecture Kengo Kuma, leads Kengo Kuma & Associates in Tokyo and Paris, is well-known with his good use of material for every region in every country. Kuma's architecture or materialistic attitude is based on innovative local resources, fabric, texture and alternative materials, which strongly refers to 'contextualism' in this sense. One of the latest projects of Kengo Kuma is the 'Pigment' shop completed at the end of 2015. 

view from the facade of Pigment

The 'Pigment' shop and gallery is made up of a very thin bamboo material that gave the wavy shape of interior. The design created a smooth surface that is detailed with the traditional products inside. The whole surface of the interior covered by wood material and coloured by only traditional Japanese products.  

Japanese products are placed smoothly in the shop-that presents untouchable way

One of the aims of this project was to form a 3D curved surface in a frame of concrete, generated from computer technology. Laser-cut steel panels and thin bamboo are the basic materials to be used inside. They created a wave of bamboo for the shop, a purpose-built space to show and sell traditional pigment for Japanese painting, along with brushes and old inkstones.

interior view with the traditional Japanese products

a detail view from the ceiling

outer view of the shop that is differentiated with a curvaceous roof 

Project Facts

Architect: Kengo Kuma & Associates

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Dates: October 2013-December 2015

Service: shop, gallery

all images © Kengo Kuma and Architects

> via Kengo Kuma & Associates