Seating that resembles bars of soap and pipe-like clothing rails appear inside this Issey Miyake store in Osaka's Minamisemba neighbourhood, which was designed by Shingo Noma.
The store, monikered Issey Miyake Semba, is shortlisted in the large retail interior category of the 2020 Dezeen Awards.
Japanese designer Shingo Noma created the interiors to reference Osaka's long history of maritime trade ? the city's port has been in operation since before the year 300 AD.
The store's exterior features a sculpture that looks like a tap
"Linking the city of water, Osaka, with the continuous circulation of interesting ideas that bubble up from making things at Issey Miyake to the image of the store, I arrived at the design concept of a 'fount of creativity'," explained Noma, who is also art director of the gallery inside Issey Miyake's Kyoto branch. "If you turn on the faucet, there will always be a gushing flow of interesting ideas."
Water-inspired decor details have therefore been introduced at every point in the store. A four-pronged silver sculpture that looks like the handle of a traditional tap has been mounted on the facade, just above the brand's logo.
Concrete covers most of the store's interior
Inside, on the store's ground floor, garments are hung from bending metal rails that have been shaped to mimic water pipes.
The same pipe-like tubing supports the display tables, which all feature white, glossy countertops ? almost reminiscent of the inner lining...