Japan House - London’s Cultural Home of Japan

tudio 104 are honoured to have designed, delivered, and fitted bespoke uniforms for Japan House. Prominently located on London’s Kensington High Street, Japan House London acts as a Japanese hub for Europe. Having opened in London in summer 2018 as part of the global cultural initiative of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it joins two other spaces in São Paulo and Los Angeles.

Presenting the very best of Japanese art, design, gastronomy, innovation, and technology, the experience is an authentic encounter with Japan, engaging and surprising even the most knowledgeable guests. The space was designed by interior designer Masamichi Katayama.

Masamichi Katayama concepts for the floor including the shop and gallery is the tokonoma (an alcove in traditional Japanese guestrooms). This concept was inspired by the following two contexts: Tenshin Okakura’s concept of 虚 (utsu, meaning vacuum) and 空 (kara, meaning 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.

Taking inspiration from the simplicity of Masamichi’s design, we have worked to create a bespoke uniform that mirrors the clean geometric aesthetics which embody the roots of Japan House.

Taking the brief of a white crease-resistant shirt, paired with a black trouser, we have delved into the history and design of Japan House to create a bespoke uniform offering which is suitable for everyday wear. The idea of the suppression of ego inspired us to create an oversized gender-neutral silhouette that follows the minimal aesthetic.

The third piece is a unisex lightweight jacket, suitable for wearing indoors as a layering piece that sits back with the rest of the uniform. Japan has an incredible history of high quality, unique fabrics, for this project we wanted to promote this by exploring the colour indigo, therefore the jackets internal seams are bound in an indigo binding.

To see more of what Japan House has to offer, see link below:

https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/

Written by Emma @ Studio 104