BE:SIDE Cafe and Beauty is an innovative architectural and interior design project completed in 2020 in Shibuya, Japan, that masterfully reimagines traditional Japanese design elements within a contemporary retail context. This sophisticated establishment represents a significant evolution in the intersection of culinary and beauty retail spaces, distinguished by its striking entrance design that pays homage to historical Japanese architecture. The design's centerpiece is an interpretative adaptation of a traditional wisteria arbor, creating a dynamic facade that serves both aesthetic and functional purposes in the quiet residential area of Aoyama. The project demonstrates exceptional spatial planning through its thoughtful integration of indoor and outdoor elements, where the entrance structure doubles as an exterior seating area for patrons. The interior design philosophy embraces minimalism with purposeful intent, utilizing dark grey tiles that extend from the terrace throughout the store, creating an illusion of depth while emphasizing the dramatic impact of the wisteria-inspired roof structure. The lighting scheme, carefully orchestrated by lighting specialist Hiroshi Enami, achieves a delicate balance between functionality and ambiance, employing contrast to create visual interest while maintaining product visibility. This innovative retail concept, designed by Akitoshi Imafuku and Lily Sugiyama, earned recognition with a Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design category, acknowledging its excellence in merging traditional architectural elements with contemporary retail requirements.
retail design, Japanese architecture, wisteria-inspired design, contemporary minimalism, spatial innovation, architectural heritage
CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'BE:SIDE Cafe And Beauty.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=455008 (Accessed on August 02, 2025)"
We have 216.552 Topics and 472.818 Entries and BE:SIDE Cafe And Beauty has 1 entries on Design+Encyclopedia. Design+Encyclopedia is a free encyclopedia, written collaboratively by designers, creators, artists, innovators and architects. Become a contributor and expand our knowledge on BE:SIDE Cafe And Beauty today.