DDAA, a Tokyo-based design firm known for breathing new life into old structures, has completed the renovation of a more than 60-year-old wooden house near Umeda Station in Osaka, Japan. The revitalized 812-square-foot space is now home to a stylish new retail space for Tokyo streetwear brand Hender Scheme.
The flagship store in Japan’s Kansai region is more than a retail outpost—it’s the embodiment of “kasou,” or an addition, infusing new layers to the existing structure without changing its intrinsic character.
Hender Scheme’s production approach—or “remixing”—involves using familiar motifs, like classic sneakers, and applying leatherwork techniques or superimposing leather parts onto the existing products, a method that also resonates with DDAA’s design philosophy
For DDAA founder Daisuke Motogi, the contrast of the existing building with neutral white was key to the design. “The white paint is made by epoxy resin mixed with white pigment to create a rough texture and slow the hardening speed, resulting in an icicle-like appearance,” he says.
The wall-mounted fixtures are white, while the floor-mounted fixtures, made of concrete, match the existing floor. This harmony extends to the elegant polished floor finish, the exposed lighting, and even leather curtains that enable hands-free access, utilizing factory-style vinyl curtain hardware in the backroom entrance.
This Hender Scheme store embodies a unique fusion of fashion and architectural design, reflecting a shared commitment to reinterpreting the ordinary and familiar in an extraordinary manner. By respecting what existed and building upon it, DDAA and Hender Scheme created a space that resonates with fashion enthusiasts as well as architecture aficionados.
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