BE:SIDE -SWEETS&TREATMENT- FUNABASHIYA by supermaniac inc.

“Funabashiya” is a kuzu-mochi (arrowroot mochi) store with a long history since 1805, and this shop is their new conceptual shop focusing on health and beauty. Among numbers of their stores as Funabashiya, the wisteria arbor at their flagship store in Kameido Tenjin became iconic to their customer.

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For their new challenge, we thought it is important to return to their own roots and cherish their long history, so we adopted the iconic wisteria arbor to the design of the whole entrance. Not only the original design of the entrance stands out in the quiet residence area in Aoyama and caught people’s attentions, but it also functions as outside seating for their customers.

To emphasize the linear design, the dark grey tiles runs from the terrace to the end of the store, and it makes the store look deeper and the terrace roof inspired by the wisteria arbor more dynamic. We kept the interior minimum and simple to make their products stands out and carefully plan the lighting to make the space bright enough but not too plain and boring by creating contrast of light.

Designer Profile

Akitoshi Imafuku

supermaniac inc. is a design firm based in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. Founded in Osaka in 2000 by Akitoshi Imafuku when he was 28 years old. The firm has designed numbers of restaurants, shops, and other commercial spaces, but what make them unique is that they go beyond designing a space. They strongly believe in concept making, and designing clients’ business as a whole including its branding and marketing based on the solid concept. Received awards from Asia, Europe and U.S.A. Published authored book “CONCEPT making” in 2008.

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