Tightly Woven: Building on Ginza Square by Klein Dytham architecture

The eponymous square is located in Tokyo’s famous Ginza shopping district, which has been a centre of Japanese culture and commerce for the past century. The building with the striking façade on Ginza Square completes the appearance of the intersection. Tokyo’s Klein Dytham architecture was charged with creating a substantial building that would take up and accentuate the existing urban structures. At the same time, the building’s design should reflect the discerning character of the district, for Ginza is known not only for its exclusive fashion boutiques and galleries, but also for its many excellent buildings by renowned architects.

The façade of the new building is inspired by sukashibori, a traditional Japanese handicraft: the technique is typically used in small objects such as baskets or dishes. The permeable structure allows a flexible distribution of openings in the façade. The height of the individual elements increases in the middle and upper areas of the façade: this vertical movement gives the building a dynamic effect.