Kyoto, Japan
Known for its designs for Norman Foster and collaboration with Zaha Hadid Design, Japan’s leading wooden and craftsmanship furniture Karimoku Furniture Inc. reveals the newly opened Karimoku Commons, a hybrid space designed by Keiji Ashizawa Design and Yumi Nakata to house its new base in the Kansai region.
Japan’s leading wooden furniture manufacturer Karimoku Furniture Inc. has announced the opening of Karimoku Commons Kyoto on February 1st – a new space over three floors to showcase its different high-end furniture brands.
Karimoku Commons Kyoto is a new 150 m² hybrid space to stage the high-end brands Karimoku, Karimoku New Standard, MAS and Ishinomaki Laboratory by Karimoku in the city center of Kyoto.
It is the second hybrid space by Japan’s leading wooden furniture manufacturer, following Karimoku Commons Tokyo and will serve as a new base in the Kansai region.
Karimoku Commons Kyoto will act as a showroom and office space, allowing visitors to both learn about the unparalleled manufacturing methods of Karimoku Furniture, combining state-of-the-art woodworking machines and the skilled craftsmanship of its artisans, and experience the resulting wooden furniture first-hand.
Conceived as a new place for communication, visitors can see and touch the furniture and learn more about the “high-tech and high-touch” ethos at Karimoku Furniture.
The new hybrid space Karimoku Commons Kyoto is located in Kyoto’s vibrant district Nakagyo-Ku in a former Machiya, a traditional Japanese wooden townhouse.
The Machiya features an eye-catching exterior with wooden lattices, including a prominent street eave and a very distinctive style of latticework.
Upon entering the space, visitors are greeted by a calm and relaxed atmosphere that stands in contrast to the busy outside of the Machiya.
The calm and harmonious space is designed with a focus on the lifestyle brand Karimoku, highlighting items designed for each Case Study by Norm Architects, the creative directors of Karimoku, architect and designer Keiji Ashizawa, and British architect Norman Foster.
Slightly smaller than Karimoku Commons Tokyo, the new showroom in Kyoto allows visitors to fully immerse themselves into the world of Karimoku Furniture Inc.
Karimoku Commons Kyoto was designed under the direction of Keiji Ashizawa Design.
On the first and second floor the furniture collections by lifestyle brand Karimoku are on display, allowing visitors to fully immerse into the various case studies the collections were initially designed for.
On the third floor, the high-end brands Karimoku New Standard, MAS and Ishinomaki Laboratory by Karimoku are on view.
The library space on the third floor offers visitors a broad view of the collections and exemplifies the wide range of applications, ranging from private living areas to a more public lobby setting.
The exhibition concept was designed and styled by Yumi Nakata, while Megumi Fukatsu was commissioned to develop a special scent that meets the concept and purpose of the space.
In addition, MUSIC SHARE was commissioned to develop music for Karimoku Commons Kyoto.
Visitors are thus offered a holistic experience for various senses while experiencing the high-quality wooden furniture by Karimoku Furniture.
On the second floor, the furniture and fittings are mainly smoked oak with dark tones.
The flooring is also in the same colour tone.
The deep and profound colour scheme is inspired by the traditional Danish technique of smoking wood, which is reminiscent of Kyoto’s historic wooden buildings that have changed over the years due to weather conditions and time.
In contrast to the bright atmosphere on the first floor, the space has a calm and serene feel.
On the third floor other top tier Karimoku brands are showcased, including Karimoku New Standard, MAS and Ishinomaki Laboratory by Karimoku.
The exhibition design is derived from a library, displaying selected pieces of furniture on the walls and floor, highlighting the versatility of Karimoku Furniture and its artisan craftsmanship.
Additionally, the showroom also features the SEYUN collection, a collaborative collection with ZAHA HADID DESIGN, skillfully exploring the possibilities in woodworking.
Project: Karimoku Commons
Architects: Keiji Ashizawa Design
Exhibition Concept: Yumi Nakata
Client: Karimoku Furniture Inc.
Photographers: Tomooki Kengaku Photography
