Topics	Event Information

Press Release	Press Media

Dissertation

WMV VISVIM KOBE

Category:		Shops

Date:		2025.04.30

Tags:		#coffee #contrarydept #indigocampingtrailer #kobe #littlecloudcoffee #visvim #wmv #wmvvisvimkobe

As if we had existed in this space from long ago.

We opened a new store in Kobe. The "Kyukyoryuchi" (former foreign settlement) area located alongside the water south of Sannomiya is a lovely part of town where many pre-war buildings remain standing today. I had long thought it would be nice to open a store here someday, then this great property was brought to my attention. The open space was on the ground floor of the Chartered Building, a modern steel reinforced concrete structure that was originally constructed in 1938 as the Kobe branch of Chartered Bank. The façade is accented with a classic wooden revolving door, like those found in old European and American hotels, and once inside you are welcomed by a large open atrium space that stretches up to the 2nd floor.

Much of the original design details were still present in the interior, and being that the space was originally a bank, the materials used for the floors and walls alongside other decorative elements gave the place a more profound and serious impression. This space had the most definitive character of all our stores to date, so I wanted to highlight its individuality while also making it a more comfortable space.

The first thing I really liked about the space was the plentiful amount of natural light that would fill the room through the large vertical glass windows that ran along the wall. The originally designed mechanical windows that would open and close were still there, but they had become rusty and were no longer operational. The management company for the building had plans to replace the original fixtures with new modern window frames, however we opted to restore them by fixing them up so the original mechanisms would work once again as I really wanted to preserve the charm of its textural appearance. Not only do they let in the natural light, but they once again allow you to feel the ocean breeze come in.

Our inspiration was to create an organic and natural feeling for the store. The inner walls are finished with Shikkui plaster that gently absorb the beautiful natural light, other details include custom rotating hanging fixtures fabricated from African Bubinga wood, as well as fusuma sliding doors made with washi paper and adorned with a checkered pattern applied by a Katazurizome dyeing technique. The handrails for the staircase that lead to the second floor where the coffee counter is located have also been updated from metal to wood, and our carpenter carved the corners to create a curved surface that has a nice smooth feel. The coffee counter is finished using a traditional Japanese technique known as "Naguri" (a processing method that leaves distinct markings on the surface of timber or boards and are made with carpentry tools such as a chouna). The counter on the first floor is made of layered Oya stones where in fact each piece of cut stone has been gradually and meticulously chipped away to create delicately rounded corners.

The floors remain intact from the days of the original bank and consist of terrazzo and concrete that show signs of damage alongside permanent stains. There were even traces of where the counter and back room used to be located during that time. We wanted to emphasize the history and distinct nature of this building, so we chose to restore some aspects of it while leaving the rest as is. On the other hand, the spotlights and pendant lights hanging from the ceiling were custom made, taking design inspiration from era appropriate 1930's light fixtures. Everything including the shades and glass were made from scratch. When we tested the lights, they felt a bit too bright, so we made some small modifications by painting the inside of each shade. Although each alteration may seem like a pretty small thing, the accumulation of this kind of work that gets done by the hands of those involved creates an irreplaceable harmony with the old building. I want all of it to blend in naturally, as if it had been a part of this space from the beginning. The thoughts and feelings we have when creating a store space is the same as when we are creating products for our collection.