Kengo Kuma – Starbucks

Individually is not something you would usually associate with a large multi-national. However Starbucks is starting to understand that to stay at the top of their game they need to embrace the unique and bring back the ‘local coffee shop’ vibe.

Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the building is made of 2,000 stick-like parts in the sizes of 1.3m – 4m length and 6cm section. The walls’ covering is a striking departure from the company’s typical uninspired interiors a major departure from the cookie-cutter stores around the world.

To begin with, the location of this Starbucks is somewhat unusual, as it stands on the main approach to the Dazaifu Tenmangu, a major shrines in Japan. Established in 919 A.D., the shrine receives about 2 million visitors a year. Along the main path to the shrine, there are traditional Japanese buildings in one or two stories. The project aimed to make a structure that harmonizes with such townscape, using a unique system of weaving thin woods diagonally.

Last year, Starbucks opened its first concept shop in Amsterdam (The Bank), to showcase its slow-brew coffee, local craftsmanship, and eco-friendly furnishings. According to The New York Times, Starbucks is investing millions in making over hundreds of its stores in France to appeal to coffee aficionados who favor the personalized atmosphere of cafés.