The image of the restaurant that was originally there is also still in my mind.
When I came to this store again, I felt that the massive and stately storefront was very Konno-san-like, but I also felt a different mood from that of "V.E.L." in Sendagaya and the store at Parco in Shibuya.
Konno: I had a sense that my ideas for the store had become entrenched, so I wanted to make a change from the stores I had worked on in the past. I wanted to create an inorganic atmosphere inside the store, but at the same time, give it some warmth with the fixtures. While military is at the core of the store, it would have had a strong cosplay feel if we had kept the same style, so we tried to create an atmosphere by effectively using olive green.
The interior design this time was done with the help of my friends in Chiba, my hometown, and the construction was done by a junior colleague in Chiba who has been coming to my store since the early days. However, it is still incomplete due to budget and construction schedule, but I hope to improve it slowly.
Yes, the fixtures do stand out.
Konno: Since we were limited in what we could put in relation to the site area, we wanted to install each item with a backbone. The showcase at the entrance and the lights hanging from the ceiling were purchased from "Hooked Vintage" in Shibuya. Vintage" in Shibuya.
Both are wonderful.
Konno: This showcase appears to be from the 1900s-20s, and after researching it, it looks like it was used by a paint manufacturer at the time. It has been partially remodeled and has a bar attached to the top so that it can be hung. I thought it would be nice to hang clothes as it is now, or to put a torso in it.
I feel very calm.
Konno: The glass is also called "shimmering glass" from those days, and is slightly distorted. The fact that the glass is not as uniform as it is today gives it a certain charm, doesn't it? I personally want to pass on these old items to the next generation because they have been cherished by someone for a long time. That is why I hang very old center lights.
How old is this one?
Konno: It was patented in the 1800s, and a sticker from that time remains on the inside. It was made by I.P. Frink, a manufacturer famous for mirror shades. At that time, the light from light bulbs was weak, so the inside was mirrored to maximize the amount of light. I really like the atmosphere of it. The interior of the store is really solid, so we put a lot of thought into the lights, especially in the interior design.
Is this rack also vintage?
Konno: This is a new fixture made by a fixture shop in Osaka called H.I.D. The large showcase and the entrance door are also new. The large showcase and the door at the entrance are also made by H.I.D. We had a chance to meet this person, and this is our first time working together. I got to know him through a chance encounter, and this is the first time we have worked together, but it seems that he also works on fixtures for various major brands and stores.
Did you have an image in mind for the rack?
Konno: I wanted to keep the hanger rack as minimalist as possible. However, I wanted to add a bit of color to it, so I asked the client to use gold parts in some areas. I used an old-fashioned technique for the processing, and I thought it would be nice to have an affinity with the hanger hooks. The "$" mark was originally on this part, and I would be happy if it leads to sales (laughs).
The entrance door was also made, and it is a bellows type, isn't it?
Konno: We wanted to make the frontage as adjustable as possible, but we also wanted to make the restaurant open to the public by opening the doors all the way. Bostock" along this street also has an open entrance, and there is a feeling of being sucked in. That is why we decided to make the entrance of this store open, with the hope that customers will feel free to come in.
Konno: We also wanted to keep the appearance of the restaurant after closing more important than anything else, so we chose a bellows door with that image in mind. The Italian restaurant that used to be here had a really nice atmosphere after closing. I noticed it every time I passed by, and once I was invited by someone to go in, but I never had a chance to try the food. But the atmosphere was outstanding. I still have that image in my mind. So we kept the original vintage shutters and made use of them.
