SALT designs steinway & sons flagship showroom in tokyo

SALT designs steinway & sons flagship showroom in tokyo
(above) the tuning chamber can be viewed from the outside
all images © nacasa & partners inc

designed by ogata yoshiki, ikawa atsushi, and watase ikuma, the steinway & sons flagship asian store is located in tennoz isle in tokyo. the aim was to create a space where their clients can feel the craftsmanship of the brand, its philosophy, history, and the beauty of their instruments. the first step was to annex a string screen to the façade to represent the echo of steinway. to do so, 12.000 stainless wires were added, echoing the number found in the pianos. in the same way that the piano wires receive tension, which cannot be seen with the human eye, the stainless wires on the façade give the space both tranquility and a tense atmosphere.

main entrance

an entrance lounge was created resembling the lifestyle of the steinway pianos in european manors, to achieve the concept of ‘the steinway piano is an important part of a family.’ a book gallery showcases the publications and items that talk about things related to the brand, its history and future vision. additionally, steinway & sons have acquired more than 125 patents since their first acquisition in 1857, and to display them, a wall was created. this wall is lacquered, which is said to be an origin of the black color coating of the pianos. each patent is displayed inside the engraved surface, giving the visitors the impression that steinway is preserving their tradition and history.

main entrance-book shelf

by showcasing the tuning process, visitors can feel a sense of security and admiration. even when one isn’t being tuned, you can see a piano in the spotlight from outside the building. it acts as a showcase where clients can view the works of art created over time by artisans. by recreating the craftsmanship, philosophy, the beauty of its instruments, and the history as architecture that embodies steinway & sons, this showroom has become a space to add feelings, scenes, and experiences to the brand.

main entrance-piano wire shadow

main entrance-piano wire shadow 

main entrance-secret door

office entrance

soundproof room

tuning room

tuning room

tuning room

façade

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edited by: juliana neira | designboom