AOYAMA BENIYA

Aoyama Beniya
Celebrating 100 years since its founding, Aoyama Beniya has been particular about creating Japanese sweets that reflect the changing seasons.
The essence lies in the lineup that changes with the seasons.
The wooden molds tells the story of this feeling. (A wooden mold used by Japanese wagashi (traditional sweets) craftsmen. ) A symbolic space where the creator can be seen through a hole in the wall made of wooden molds.
The signboard gives a sense of the history that dates back to the time of the company's founding, and the wooden walls are lined up rhythmically as visual elements.
While conveying tradition and technology, we thought that by highlighting old things, Beniya's creations would create a psychological resonance that continues to shine even today.
In order to bring out the delicate colors and shapes of Japanese sweets to the fullest, we intentionally did not use direct lighting, instead using low-reflection glass and supplemental ambient light to truly express the brilliance of Japanese sweets themselves.
Design points
This time, I was blessed with the opportunity to relocate and rebuild a long￾established Japanese confectionery store in the Minami-Aoyama area. We worked closely with F3R (our partner company) to redesign the interior of the store to create a "spatial experience that responds to the changing seasons."
1. interior
Since the "wooden mold" has two layers, by lighting between the layers, the entire wall becomes a wooden lantern.
This is a highly intimate space where the owner can sit on the benches facing each other, as if reaching out to him, and have the opportunity to explain the passion and message of the creator.
The circular atrium leading up to the eat-in area captures natural light, and the silhouettes of the trees approaching the restaurant are projected into the interior according to the season.
By eating Japanese sweets while immersing yourself in such a space, you can experience the changing seasons with all five senses.
www.idpa-japan.com 2. A circular building and an alley serving the area
We thought that a circular building would be appropriate to take advantage of the corner location.
This is because the approach garden along its perimeter can be provided as a passage through the area.
Therefore, we wanted to design an alleyway that would be easy for people of all ages to enter the store, regardless of gender, and also have an aesthetic sense reminiscent of a Japanese garden, where local people could stand without hesitation.
Looking at the floor stones, we went to Ibaraki Prefecture to select the "Makabe stones", which are large and measure approximately 60cm x 120cm.
Its size and weight made it suitable as a material that conveys Beniya's history as time passes.
Also, although they are usually used with their shiny front side facing up, here we intentionally placed most of the stones with their back side facing up.
By doing so, you can experience the elegance brought about by the unique expressions of stone, such as rainwater glistening on the uneven surface of the stone, and shadows created by sunlight.
Then, by arranging the stones using the characteristics of each stone's shape, we created a change in the direction of movement and the line of sight leading up to the store's entrance. The design was based on the theme of creating a landscape that will remain in the hearts of those who walk through this alley. Floor area: 34.92㎡ (sales floor) / Main structure: Wooden (partially residential) / Integrated design of interior and exterior space