Neil Barrett Store by Zaha Hadid Architects

The concept for the Neil Barrett flagship store in Tokyo is based on the minimal cut of the brand`s fashion design and parallels its approach in using the same design parameters of fixed points, folding, pleating and cut outs. Rather than defining a single room or space, Zaha Hadid created a circular passage allowing the customers to experience the space in multiple ways and interpretations.



The design shifts between architecture and sculpture, where a compact mass of surface layers unravel and fold to form the shelving display and seating.

The concept of the store plays with the complementary characteristics and the related dualism between male and female. The furniture piece on the ground floor is designed as a strong, masculine and dynamic form whilst the piece on the first floor enunciates femininity through more fluid contour lines.



The furniture piece on the ground floor is designed as a strong, masculine and dynamic form whilst the piece on the first floor enunciates femininity through more fluid contour lines. The first floor is designed in a more playful manner creating different zones that maintain the perspective view between them.



This interplay between male and female is followed through in the general aesthetic concept , setting the furniture piece with a white smooth Corian finish against the raw fair faced concrete surface of the rest of the space. This is further accentuated through the contrast in colour and finish of the white matt furniture finish against a black glossy floor.



Neil Barrett Flagship Store, Tokyo, Japan 2008
CLIENT : Neil Barrett
PROGRAMM: Interior Design, Shop Tokyo
ARCHITECT: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher
Project Architects: Claudia Wulf, Elke Presser, Torsten Broeder
CONSULTANTS
Fabrication: Cutting Edge (UK)
Surface Material Supply: DuPont
SIZES
Furniture Dimension / Ground floor: / H 3.00 m, W 2.60 m, L 15.80 m / Footprint: 2.00 m2
Furniture Dimension / First floor: / H 2.80 m, W 3.70 m, L 8.40 m / Footprint: 2.20 m2

Photos by Virgile Simon Bertrand