kosaku matsumoto turns tokyo barbershop into cave-like retail space

kosaku matsumoto renovated a small retail space previously used as a barber shop in shirokane in tokyo, japan. the owner had no specific request for the renovated building, except for it would be used as an apparel showroom several times a year. so the architect decided to move into the space while he redesigned it, discovering the vibrant surroundings of the seemingly gloomy building.

the architect saw the existing space as depicting a cave-like ambiance and chose to incorporate it as a main theme in his design. a cave, natural and devoid of any preconditioned use, was the starting point for the designer’s concept. to achieve this look, matsumoto hid the most functional objects – lights switches and outlets – to expose the natural materials of the space’s interior surfaces. the raw materials and neutral colors refer to the primitive aesthetic of caves, yet at a more refined level.

the front room features a wall made of baked cedar coated with epoxy resin. the blackened wall surface dimly reflects the entire space, like a large shadow being cast. the surface is a decorative element, as well as a functional element that hides the bed, kitchen, closet and toilet. upon closer inspection, the rough texture of the baked cedar shows beyond the surface and the impression of the material changes according to the distance and time.

Inside seen through small window

other materials were selected and developed to expose their multiple layers. the existing building’s facade was only covered halfway with decorative bricks, but it possessed a unique and appealing look. the architect chose to leave the bricks as he found them, and create a new aesthetic for the facade, by using the bricks as the foundation of the new surface layer built on top.

placing cement boards over the bricks’ foundations made for a wavy facade surface. the reinforced cement board was cut to the exact size of the existing brick it was being attached to. because the cut cement board reflects the unevenness of the underlying brick, and the wall surface is slightly wavy. the original bricks are still visible in the open gaps, giving the surface a semi-stereoscopic sense of depth. the attempt explores the possibility of a new surface design by giving it another perspective and detaching the decorative material from its original function.

old facade’s exposed bricks

project info:

project type: retail space

architects: kosaku matsumoto

location: shirokane in tokyo, japan

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edited by: cristina gomez | designboom