The Nagoya store is the first stand-alone Conran Shop building in Japan.
The corner site, a former car park, gives the building two public elevations, with the main frontage looking out to a linear park that runs through the city. The three-storey 2,000 sq m building comprises retail spaces at ground and first floors with a smaller, set back third floor for storage and offices. The first floor also includes a café with views over the park.
The summer climate in Nagoya is hot and humid and in response the distinguishing element of the building is a series of louvres across the south elevation, wrapping the street corner at first floor level. The grand scale of these louvres is intended as a bold urban gesture and signals the customer entrance at street level below. At the same time their scale allows generous spacing, giving views through from the shop & cafe to the park, while cutting out the heat of the summer sun.
Glazing to the building is limited, both to minimise heat gain and to provide the necessary wall space internally for merchandise display. The glass is set back from the louvres, giving shade and creating a covered external area, while still allowing clear views into the shop from the street.
The main stair linking the ground and first floors is positioned on the corner of the building, so that the circulation of customers animates the elevation and suggests the layout of the shop within.
The building is clad in self-finished pre-cast concrete panels, emphasising the abstract quality of its ‘carved block form’ - an understated backdrop to the merchandise within. This approach continues internally with a restrained palette of materials including reconstituted stone floors, white plaster walls and ceilings, and shelving constructed of glass and thick plywood-edged white laminate panels.
The corner site, a former car park, gives the building two public elevations, with the main frontage looking out to a linear park that runs through the city. The three-storey 2,000 sq m building comprises retail spaces at ground and first floors with a smaller, set back third floor for storage and offices. The first floor also includes a café with views over the park.
The summer climate in Nagoya is hot and humid and in response the distinguishing element of the building is a series of louvres across the south elevation, wrapping the street corner at first floor level. The grand scale of these louvres is intended as a bold urban gesture and signals the customer entrance at street level below. At the same time their scale allows generous spacing, giving views through from the shop & cafe to the park, while cutting out the heat of the summer sun.
Glazing to the building is limited, both to minimise heat gain and to provide the necessary wall space internally for merchandise display. The glass is set back from the louvres, giving shade and creating a covered external area, while still allowing clear views into the shop from the street.
The main stair linking the ground and first floors is positioned on the corner of the building, so that the circulation of customers animates the elevation and suggests the layout of the shop within.
The building is clad in self-finished pre-cast concrete panels, emphasising the abstract quality of its ‘carved block form’ - an understated backdrop to the merchandise within. This approach continues internally with a restrained palette of materials including reconstituted stone floors, white plaster walls and ceilings, and shelving constructed of glass and thick plywood-edged white laminate panels.
