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.

Hoto Fudo - Takeshi Hosaka Architects

Nestled within the foot of Mount Fuji, stands an igloo-like noodle bar, designed by Japanese Studio, Takeshi Hosaka Architects. Hoto Fudo’s smooth and curving structure draws inspiration from the clouds that surround the summit of the great mountain. Its form is modest, yet carefully considered.

Air circulates through the organically shaped restaurant through its large openings in its walls, which removes the need for any air conditioning unit, lowing its carbon footprint. The design of its reinforced concrete shell allows for the diners to interact with their stunning surroundings. Though its furnishings may seem a little disjointed from its playful external shell, it does not however draw away from the experience of dining in such a spectacular location. Its sloping curves allow rain to fall at the edge of its interior, letting the occupants enjoy the sound of raindrops, while they eat. When surrounded by fog its open walls entice the haze to seep within the entrances. During the winter months, buried within the landscape by snow, it offers the diner a unique opportunity to observe the regions winter wildlife through sweeping acrylic doors that can be closed when needed. Its unique relationship to nature and its surrounds are what sets its apart.

Though the concept of creating a ‘unique’ culinary experience is not revolutionary, the idea of creating a design that invites interaction with the setting in which it resides is truly inspiring. Setting itself apart from a myriad of brash outlandish and dominating ‘icons’ in contemporary design. Hoto Fudo’s quiet and collected aesthetics suggest a deeper respect for its surroundings, with an inherent knowledge not to compete, when you dine in the midst of one of the world most stunning creations.