Japanese studio Lighting Planners Associates lit a white tree-like canopy for the interior refurbishment of the historic Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in Tokyo.
The retail brand traces its history back to 1673 and a kimono fabric seller named Echigoya, while the department store was established in 1904.
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma was brought on board to redesign the first floor in 2018, alongside Lighting Planners Associates.
The first floor of Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store has been refurbished
The concept for the renovation was building "a shining, white forest" that arches over shoppers as they browse the counters and channels them through the store.
Columns covered in bright white, stylised leaf-shaped panels have a distinctive art deco influence, in a nod to the building's original architecture. "At each entrance, a specially designed ceiling greets customers," said Lighting Planners Associates.
"The tree canopy expands across the entire sales floor creating a beautiful gradation of light and filling the space with a sense of brightness."
Columns have been covered in backlit white aluminium panels
Each aluminium leaf is lit from behind by an individual light.
"In conjunction with the architect and manufactures we made adjustments and verifications through carefully conducted mock-ups to achieve a soft glow of light from in-between canopy leaves," explained the lighting studio.
The creative vision was to create a "sh...