Fashion store in Tokyo

For this Tokyo flagship store of a young New York fashion label, the former concept artist Vito Acconci implanted an interior of glowing curves into a small building in the fashionable district of Daikanyama. As a way of visually increasing the space inside the store (only 60 m2 of floor space), the surfaces that flow around the space were given the added function of lighting. Waves of white PVC cover the entire interior, flowing over walls and ceiling, and stretching over steel tubes to form shelves and a counter. At floor level the PVC disappears into a joint with concealed lighting, marking the transition to a bare screed floor. Fluorescent lighting, hidden behind the taut PVC surfaces, illuminates the whole boutique. The omnipresent textile covering sets up a natural link with the clothing displayed on the shelves and chrome hangers. When customers want to try something on, curtains are drawn around in the centre of the sales space to form two changing cabins. The curtains run on guide rails set into the floor and ceiling, and hang next to the columns when not in use. These columns have mirrors on three sides, built-in folding seats and a small shelf. In line with the general style of the district the interior fittings are kept relatively simple in design, but the overall look is extremely unified and effective. A new facade of fine metal mesh was fitted around the existing building; on the street side this facade is dominated by a vertical strip, with concave and convex curves. On the ground floor the entrance curves inwards, a device to tempt shoppers into the brightly lit sales space. Mirrors either side of the sliding door intensify the impression of being drawn inside. Above the ground floor the first-floor window bulges into the street, attracting just as much attention. Clad with PVC this window functions like a large screen onto which photos and videos can be projected, or alternatively scenes from inside the store. Cameras positioned behind the mirrors can be activated by the customers themselves. Budding fashion models can thus switch on the cameras, and have their image projected onto the facade.