Hasta La Ideas

Architect Hiroyuki Miyake used a traditional English bricklaying pattern for the ceramic tiles on the walls of this beauty salon in Toyokawa, Japan.

“I tried to express alternative nostalgia by using glossy colourful tiles instead bricks,” Miyake told Dezeen.

Displaying a graduated pattern of autumn colours, the tiles line the inside of the shampoo area and also clad the building’s exterior.

A partition that separates the styling and shampoo areas features doorways that copy the rhythm of the windows opposite.

The are no tiles on the walls of the styling area, where free-standing mirrors are arranged in a line and naked light bulbs hang on copper fixings overhead.

This isn’t the first salon we’ve featured by Hiroyuki Miyake, following one with a zigzagging steel screen.

See more stories about salons and spas »

Photographs are by Rikoh Adachi.

Here’s a description from Hiroyuki Miyake:

Beauty salon “Granny.F” designed by Hiroyuki Miyake

This beauty salon is located in Toyokawa , Aichi , Japan. It was renovated from the existing empty building.

Although the outer wall of tiling is carried out based on the British brick pattern, it is expressing coexistence of tradition and novel by the gradation pattern, and rich gloss.

The sun takes for sinking and the tile loses own color gradually. However, instead, it becomes one big background which projects the expression of a town which always changes, such as the sky at sunset and a headlight of the car which goes a passage.

By suppressing the lighting to an outer wall side, the light from the window arranged at equal intervals is emphasized, and a homely atmosphere is expressed by showing an internal situation in fragments.

The tile which is visible to the opening side of an outer wall or a partition wall is settled like “skin”, and the gray space is emphasizing “inner side.”

The pendant light of the naked light bulb hung at random has given shiny and coloring into the space arranged symmetrically.

The pendant lights are covered with copper leaf.

Internal styling area is changed completely with the exterior, and the space of dim mortar gray spreads. This is a place which creates beauty and the leading role is a person to the last. Space is positioning that it is only a background.

A shampoo area is positioning called the exterior, being in an inside by choosing the same tile as an outer wall.

The gradation of a tile and indirect lighting wraps people in a rich feeling of tolerance.

People experience various services and spend a relax time while going those space back and forth.

Plan – click above for larger image 

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Hiroyuki Miyake appeared first on Dezeen.

The latticed facade of this Tokyo bookstore by Klein Dytham Architecture comprises hundreds of interlocking T-shapes that subtly reference the logo of entertainment retailer Tsutaya (+ slideshow).

“The T idea for the project came to us during the initial briefing session with the CEO of Tsutaya,” architect Mark Dytham told Dezeen. “He was hoping for an iconic building, branded in a non-branded way, without having to rely on signage.”

The little shapes also combine to create larger Ts on the elevations of the three buildings that make up the complex.

The grid created by the shapes lines up with the structural systems, and Dytham explained how this helped them to “determine the general layout” of each building.

This layout was also influenced by the locations of several large trees, which the buildings nestle between.

Louvred steel bridges link up with aisles on the first floor of each block, which the architects refer to as the “magazine street”.

As well as sales areas for books, CDs and DVDs, the store also contains a convenience store, a lounge and cafe.

Other projects we’ve featured by Klein Dytham Architecture include an airport lounge for Virgin Atlantic and a combined home and salon.

See more stories about Klein Dytham Architecture »

Photography is by Nacasa & Partners.

Here’s a project description from Klein Dytham:

T-Site, Daikanyama, Tokyo

Klein Dytham architecture won the T-Site commission in a 2 stage invited competition. 77 architects were invited to submit proposals and KDa made it to the final selection with Kengo Kuma, Atelier Bow Wow, Mikan Gumi and Kumiko Inui, before winning the project in the final round.

KDa’s new Daikanyama T-Site is a campus-like complex for Tsutaya, a giant in Japan’s book, music, and movie retail market.

Located in Daikanyama, an up-market but relaxed, low-rise Tokyo shopping district, it stands alongside the legendary Hillside Terrace buildings designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Fumihiko Maki.

Slotted between large existing trees on the site, the three pavilions are organized by a “magazine street” that threads through the complex, blurring interior and exterior.

Tailored particularly to over-50 “premium age” customers, Tsutaya’s normal product range is complimented by a series of boutique spaces carrying carefully curated product ranges.

Other facilities include a café, an upscale convenience store, and the Anjin lounge, where visitors can browse a library of classic design magazines and books or peruse artworks for sale as they eat, drink, read, chat, or relax.

Externally, KDa’s characteristic wit emerges in subtle ways – the perforated screens of the façade are formed from the Ts of the Tsutaya logo, and much larger T-shapes are disguised in the building plans and elevations.

Architecture and interior design: Klein Dytham architecture
Art Direction: Tomoko Ikegai
Architectural Consultant: RIA
Structural Engineer: Structured Environment
Main Contractor: Kajima Construction

Ground floor plan – click above for larger image

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Klein Dytham Architecture appeared first on Dezeen.

Kingyobu est un collectif composé de 5 étudiants de la Kyoto University of Art and Design. Ces derniers ont eu l’idée de remplir plusieurs cabines téléphoniques à Osaka d’eau et de poissons rouge, symboles de joie, chance et de prospérité. Plus d’images de ces aquariums urbains insolites dans la suite.

Three nations exemplify a “Common Ground” at the Biennale Architettura 2012 in Venice

“Common Ground”—the theme this year for Venice’s Biennale Architettura 2012—covers all exhibition spaces from Giardini to Arsenale, as well as the vast range of venues spread out all over town. Fitting into this larger concept while presenting their own respective themes were a number of national participants. Here are…

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A covered courtyard has been inserted into the side of this Kurashiki house by Japanese firm TT Architects (+ slideshow).

The owner of the home wanted to replace the existing extension with a structure that limited the amount of bright sunshine coming in from the west.

The architects decided to set the courtyard into the building, creating a vitrine-like space and effectively shading the living area.

A toplight in the roof of the courtyard provides extra light without glare, while full-height glazing slides across to provide access outdoors.

The living area, workspace and master bedroom are arranged around the courtyard.

On the outside walls, sheets of galvanised steel overlap slightly to resemble shingle tiles.

We recently made a Pinterest board of courtyards featured on Dezeen – see it here.

See all our stories about courtyards »
See all our stories about Japanese houses »

Photographs are by Kei Sugino.

Here’s some more information from the architects:

Concept:

Sites that were originally like this would have normally been given up on. The TT Architects’ approach to design utilises these negative elements, converting them into positive ones.

The client came to us asking that the extension on the east-side of the block and adjoining the pre-existing main building be removed, and that a building of a similar scale be built in its place.

On the west-side of the block, there is a large and spread-out garden; however the client was troubled by the sun coming in from the west and as such ceased using the windows facing this direction. Is it possible for the client to be able to enjoy the landscape from the western garden, while solving the problem posed by the western sun?

As a solution, we designed a centre-courtyard acting functionally as a deep-set eave. The layout surrounding the courtyard features a living room, a bedroom and a workspace. The courtyard acts a buffer to the western sun, resulting in a softer, indirect light filtering inside. The southern sun illuminates the courtyard after filtering through a top-light located above.

The courtyard acts a light source, ensuring that the living room is adequately lit. With the scenery unfolding right before your eyes, it is almost like one has the luxury of their very own private landscape view.

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TT Architects appeared first on Dezeen.