michele de lucchi & terunobu fujimori's grass-veiled la collina echoes its hilly surroundings

La Collina by michele de lucchi & terunobu fujimori

Nestled within the serene beauty of Omihachiman, La Collina stands as the flagship store of the Taneya Group in Japan, a collaboration brought to life by the visionary architects Michele De Lucchi and Terunobu Fujimori. The name itself, meaning ‘hill’ in Italian, was born during a stroll through the lush oasis in March 2012. The discussions and interactions during this visit shaped the vision of a space where nature, people, and culture converge seamlessly. Designed by Fujimori, the main building features a green roof, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding mountainscape. The theme of La Collina Omihachiman is rooted in the concept of a gathering place where people get closer to nature and each other. Ascending Mt. Hachiman, the team reflected the rich history and natural beauty of the region. Conversations unfolded, weaving a narrative of a place that would encapsulate the essence of Omi and extend it globally, embracing both elements from the past and present.

all images La Collina © Tanaya Group

a space where culture and nature coexist

Occupied by a vast expanse of 115,000 square meters, Taneya’s La Collina (see more here) houses the main shop, a candy farm, a café, a bread shop, a souvenir shop, and the headquarters. The project draws inspiration from the social skills of ants, symbolized by the ‘Ari’ emblem, representing its commitment to being a gathering place where people thrive, much like the resilient ants that have flourished in nature for millions of years. Rooted in the concept of ‘culture’ as cultivation, both of the fields and the mind, De Lucchi’s vision shaped La Collina into a space where culture and nature seamlessly intertwine, reminiscent of the serene beauty found in Japan’s Satoyama and rice terraces. Perched on the hills extending from Mt. Hachiman, the main shop is adorned with grass, a concept evolving over the years to reflect the slow flow of nature, contemplating the coexistence of people and nature in the future.a serene fusion of nature and architecture

the structure is enveloped in a green oasis

The Castella Shop Chestnut Hyakubon, crafted from over 100 chestnut trees, showcases the president’s personally selected pillars from Mt. Mitake in Nagano Prefecture. Future plans for La Colina include small specialty stores, market squares with organic produce, and additional features like a nursery school, an academy, and a tea room with wabi-sabi aesthetics.

drawing inspiration from traditional architecture and embodying the slow rhythm of the natural world symbolizing the unhurried flow of nature