A new shop for BLACKSMITH COFFEE, which operates several cafés in Ōta City, Gunma Prefecture. This location adopts a different concept from the other BLACKSMITH COFFEE outlets and will operate under a different name.
In accordance with that concept, we carefully crafted the space so it can be cherished over a long period. We hope it becomes a bright place valued by everyone in the community, from children to the elderly.
The client’s brief requested "a shop familiar to people of all ages, from children to seniors." In response, we created a sheltered eave space constructed from durable, sustainable materials that will age gracefully so the building may accumulate patina together with its visitors.
The eave structure is designed to guide light both into and out of the interior. During the day, light filtered through the framework introduces external illumination and deep shadows that enrich the interior’s character; at night, the eaves convey brightness to a neighborhood with limited street lighting.
The eave height is raised at the entrance to draw people into the interior and lowered beneath the canopy to create an enveloping space. The design intends that as people spend time together their bonds deepen, and as occupants experience the building’s temporal changes they develop a profound familiarity alongside their own aging.
Awards: Japan Space Design Award — Prize winner
photo (4-9): cosydesign
