I follow a wonderful blog called The Urban Times – today I found this on their site. I could not resist after Monday post of awareness, Art In and Out of the Box. You can’t miss the “art aspect” of this architecture but you can miss the fact that it is “built over the grave of a Japanese deity. The project, therefore, had cultural significance and Kuma** had to be sure as not to unsettle the historically enriching nature of the area.
Arguably, he did this well by using 6cm square blocks to both support the structure itself, and give the impression of a well kept forest. The Starbucks café is meant to feel as though you are within a tree, at one with nature. The entire wooden anatomy of the building is recyclable and if this particular store fails it can be shipped elsewhere.”
To see all the amazing images and read the full article click here.
” ** Kengo Kuma and Associates are an architectural practice based in Tokyo (and Paris) and employs a familiar style throughout their work: the combination of locally-sourced, elementary materials with contemporary chicness. The latest project in Fukuoka, Tokyo is a run-of-the-mill local Starbucks… Well, not after Kuma got his hands on it.” Quoted from The Urban Times
The Urban times gave credit to Frame Magizine- another very wonderful found! Read it here. All images sourced from frameweb.com.