Project Title:  Nature Factory
Architect:  Makoto Tanijiri // Suppose Design Office
Curator:  Masaaki Takahashi (BRIZHEAD)
Duration:  August 14, 2009 – January 31, 2010
Venue:  DIESEL DENIM GALLERY, AOYAMA // TOKYO

We’ve seen his work before on Yatzer, and we have to admit that we like it!  This time, Makoto Tanijiri of Suppose Design Office designed a store installation at the DIESEL DENIM GALLERY in Aoyama, Tokyo.  The DIESEL DENIM GALLERY is only located in Tokyo and New York as it is the signature store for the most prestigious collection at DIESEL and it functions as a gallery space as well.  The DIESEL DENIM GALLERY takes an active role in supporting talented uprising artists by providing the gallery for them to exhibit their work.  Twice a year the DIESEL DENIM GALLERY presents installations on the first floor, while the art exhibitions are held in a quarterly basis as they feature various artists on each floor.   The art pieces are available and are sold at the DIESEL DENIM GALLERY.

The concept of the installation is based on a single idea // The Garden // a walk through nature, while the plastic plumbing pipe tree grows into the store.  The idea is a plastic tree which has grown over time and has covered the stores ceiling and walls with its branches.  An atmosphere like a natural axis is created in the space covered by artificial plumbing.  The plumbing and the light effects give off amazing scenographic shadows on the wooden floors and the polished cement slab walls.  The white plumbing pipes have an amazing contrast with the black ceiling when the visitor looks up to see the shapes that the growing branches form.  The complex plumbing trails by the polished grey cement wall in all directions, and all over the space making it hard for the human eye to follow the ever-growing branch!  The new attractive scenery is presented with plumbing and fashion items to primarily show how functional objects (like plumbing pipes) have diverse usage and a higher value when creativity gives these simple objects a whole new meaning!  In the past denim which is primarily recognized as work clothing, has shown different expression as a fashion item to people.  Respectively, a group of unnoticed plumbing shows a completely different expression when it is used in the concept “Nature Factory.”

A few words about the architect // Makoto Tanijiri was born in Hiroshima in 1974; he established Suppose Design Office in 2000 with nine years of existence Suppose Design Office has designed over 60 residences while their work includes commercial space design, and product and exhibition space set-up.  

“When I always create, I think that I want to find the charm of the plan,” Makoto Tanijiri.

A few words about the curator // Masaaki Takahashi is an independent writer and editor specializing in design, architecture, art and culture. He is a regular contributor to AD// Architectural Design, Interior Design, FRAME, and Mark magazines. His work also appears in other international publications such as Interior Design, Blueprint, Design Report, IdN, MONITOR CUBES, Pen etc.  He has studied oil painting in Berlin before he enrolled in a course in environmental design at London Metropolitan University. Gained degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology at The State University of New York, at the same time he took courses at New York University.  He established his own editorial production company, Brizhead, in 1996. Authored: Japan The New Mix:  Interiors, Architecture and More, Cardinal Rules of Architectural Presentation, Design City Tokyo, Sweet Shop Interiors & Graphics, etc.

Experience the unique and innovative signature store and art space at the DIESEL DENIM GALLERY in Aoyama, Tokyo.