A counter made from monotone Lego toy building bricks is a feature of Japanese cheese-tart shop Bake Kyoto’s new outlet.
Tokyo-based designer Yusuke Seki uses the counter as a centrepiece of the new store to display its products. It joins other new Bake stores that feature a sunset-hued acrylic counter and bespoke aluminium tiles.
Seki says he chose to use Lego pieces as his main material “because it connects to visitors”.
“This architectural fabric serves as the shared language of communication between those whose spoken language may differ,” he says. “Its appeal is universal, intuitive, and its attraction felt by nearly every generation. It evokes a sense of intimacy, creating a moment that connects people to this space.”
A second, complementary feature of the store is a lattice framework lining the walls on either side of the counter, reports DeZeen.com. The latticework uses a bamboo technique known as shitajimado, which is traditionally used on the windows of Japanese teahouses. Seki has put a contemporary spin on the classic technique, using a pale wood overlaid on partially exposed walls.
“Left partially exposed, these walls allow customers to interact with a new iteration of tradition, while simultaneously encouraging an interaction with the older exterior wall cladding,” says the designer. “The store is thereby given a firm sense of place, reverberating with a reverence for the region.”
An open kitchen in the back, where the cheese tarts are baked, is another feature. A shelf on one side of the room holds stacks of Bake’s bright yellow takeaway boxes.
Seki founded his studio in 2008, and his shop interiors are minimalist, often featuring cement and pale wood. His shops include a hand-forged knife specialist and a kimono store.
Photos: Takumi Ota.