colombo design: tool by michele de lucchi in tokyo

‘tool’ by michele de lucchi for colomboimage © designboom

1. can you guess which building this is in the above image? a clue – it was designed by a swiss architecture firm for a renowned fashion powerhouse in minami-aoyama, tokyo.

tokyo – a city of a thousand dreams, a bubbling metropolis ceaselessly humming, moving, alive. the ‘tool’ door handle by italian designer michele de lucchi for colombo traveled to this ebullient megacity, melding with the digital atmosphere, patterns and attune with its cosmopolitan buzz. ‘tool’ offers a new aesthetic and fresh dialogue with which to perceive the idea of design and its values, de lucchi has shed the form to its most necessary elements for a potent, concentrated result.

the design melds with the digital atmosphere, attune with its cosmopolitan buzzimage © designboom

2. how well do you know the architecture of tokyo? can you name which building this is in ginza shown in the above image?

‘tool’ gracing various spaces around tokyoimages © designboom

the designboom photo series captures the spirit of ‘tool’ through the lens of complex and unstoppable tokyo – the dynamism that emerges through this fusion of the two forces, design and city, brings to light the power of both. the sleek, fluid language of ‘tool’ reflects the corresponding qualities imbued within the architecture, sounds, smells, textures and colors – gradually, a story develops that permeates the senses and invites you into its thread.

the patterns of a metropolisimage © designboom

3. the urban landscape of tokyo is rich and varied – can you figure out which fashion brand is associated with building in the photo above?

tokyo is as intoxicating as it is liberating, removing ‘tool’ from its regular context to this wellspring of future dreams, technology and fashion makes for a commanding visual relationship.

‘tool’ offers a new aesthetic and fresh dialogue with which to perceive the idea of design and its values, de lucchi has shed the form to  its most necessary elements for a potent, concentrated resultimage © designboom 

4.  somewhere in ginza, tokyo is this building – can you name the well-known fashion label behind it?

protecting the world from the fast depletion of resources has become more and more important in a global economy. one point is particularly emphasized in these efforts– the attention paid to manufacturing and production upon the environment. colombo design production processes are the result of a total attention to environmental protection. through the accurate management of these processes, the company has obtained the elite UNI EN ISO 14001 certification ‘certified environmental management system’, ensuring clients that colombo design production is completed with the environmental wellness in mind. 

the dizzying  forms of tokyoimage © designboom

5. test your knowledge of tokyo by guessing which building this is – maybe you can even guess the architect?

the company uses a finishing process borrowed from the tools industry, in which physical and mechanic features are produced to guarantee a very high performance, as far as mechanic wear, decay due to environmental and chemical agents, bright sunshine, and drastic/rapid changes in temperature are concerned. the strength of the finish and low rate of surface friction ensure an enduring resistance to scratches from jewelry or keys, for example. the durability of the handle’s finish is especially important in marine areas with high-salinity or regions subject to acid rains.

image © designboom

6. this building above – located in ginza, tokyo –  was designed by a well-known japanese architect – can you name who it is?

image © designboom

7. ginza, tokyo is teeming with powerful architecture – can you tell who designed the building above and which fashion label it accommodates?

image © designboom

8.  can you guess who designed the building in the picture above – a clue, it’s in ginza, tokyo.

michele de lucchi and ‘tool’ doorhandleimage © designboom

image © designboomdimensions: width: 144mm | height: 50mm | depth: 61mm

how well do you know your japanese architecture, find out in the answers below:

1. prada store (epicenter)architects: herzog and de meuron, minami-aoyama, tokyo, 2003

2. louis vuitton architects: jun aoki & associates, ginza, tokyo, 2011

3. maison hermèsarchitects: renzo piano, ginza, tokyo, 1998 – 2006

4. christian dior buildingarchitects: kumiko inui, ginza, tokyo, 2004 

5. de beers ginza building architects: jun mitsui & associates architects, ginza, tokyo, 2005 – 2008

6. mikimoto buildingarchitects: toyo ito & associates, ginza, tokyo, 2003 – 2005

7. armani ginza towerarchitects: doriana and massimiliano fuksas, ginza, tokyo, 2005 – 2007

8. gap flagship storearchitects: eight inc., ginza, tokyo, 2011