nana’s green tea JIYUGAOKA
Tokyo, Japan / 2009

“Expand by simplification”

Nanaha Co., Ltd. is a company that sends the “new form of Japan” to the world through “matcha”. They provide high quality matcha in menus that are arranged modernly, such as matcha latte. The space inside the shop is desired to be a “modern tearoom”, not a “Japanese style tea room”. According to the owner, it is a way of expressing their feeling to make a shop that allows the customers to enjoy the traditional Japanese culture with a modern interpretation.

This time, the design illustrates the aesthetics of simplicity from the progression of Sen-no-rikyu’s tea room (Space of Nine Housin —> 4.5 Tatami —> 2 Tatami —> 1.5 Tatami).
In detail, I utilised diffused lightings on negative space around columns, beams, and existing furniture, which smooth the bumpy surfaces, and make the space look like a simple square on the plan. As the result, minimal interior of a tea room has been made by ambient lightings everywhere the ceilings, and hides away the direct lighting on the ceiling.

Photos by Keisuke Miyamoto

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2010 – The 44th SDA Award – WINNER