TORAFU ARCHITECTS

We established a concept shop within the Sports Authority located in the Mark Is Minato Mirai mega shopping mall. Built around the theme of running and basket-ball, approximately half the store is dedicated to Nike products while the other half offers a selection from a number of other brands. We were tasked with creating a select shop carrying various brands while providing a clear spatial separation between Nike products and other brands, and incorporating a sporty atmosphere. The store is divided in two areas by a large gate, with Nike products at the back and miscellaneous brands near the entrance. The spatial structure of the store was converted in order to shift the scenery. The gate progressively frames and enhances each area and the store as a whole amid a lively environment. The flooring, walls and fixtures are made from elements found in the sports field. We incorporated the essence of sports into the shop with such elements as field-and-track rubber chip flooring material and track lines, cemented excelsior boards, such as those found in sports arenas, and furnishings like a bench press, etc. While sharing the same materials, a different color palette was used in the Nike area to distinguish it from the other brands. Even if the two areas are clearly demarcated, the overlapping fixtures and track lines give both areas a sense of unity as a single shop.