wonderwall's japan house in london introduces the country through retail, exhibition + food

wonderwall has completed the interior of the japan house in london, one of the three experiential hubs (sao paolo and los angeles being the other two locations) developed to showcase the country through exhibitions, events, retail, and food & drink areas. the london location expands over three floors designed according to the same overall guidelines as defined by chief creative director kenya hara ‘to introduce authenticated japanese beauty and sensibilities.’

the japan house, led by the the country’s ministry of foreign affairs, aims to nurture a deeper appreciation and understanding of japan within the international community. wonderwall has developed the london location with a shop and café stand on the ground floor, a restaurant and bar on the first floor, and multipurpose hall, gallery, and library on its lower ground floor.

drawing from the tokonoma, (an alcove in traditional japanese guestrooms) the two floors that contain the shop and the gallery echo the country’s unique aesthetics, while the atmosphere of the rooms changes according to the various elements and events taking place inside. wonderwall has based the concept of these spaces on two references, ‘tenshin okakura’s concept of 虚 (vacuum) and 空 (emptiness) describing a space in which others can freely enter as the most versatile and essential; and bruno taut’s “style of relationships” which he discovered in the reciprocal relationships between the elements that make up the katsura rikyu imperial villa.’

for the restaurant and bar of the first floor, the japanese firm has based the design on the concept of the doma, a traditionally a semi-outdoor space with earthen floor and a kitchen that is often found close to a house’s entrance area. drawing from the unique qualities of the doma, the restaurant amplifies and expands the moments of socializing, dining and enjoying each other’s company.