The exhibition "Aoki Jun Exhibition – The Touch of Architecture," curated by architect Aoki himself, opened at the Loro Piana Ginza store on April 16th.
The fourth floor space, usually used as a VIP room, is used to introduce the creation stories of Aoki's works, including the store's façade, as well as those for the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art and the Aomori Museum of Art, through handwritten sketchnotes, objects, and slides that have rarely been shown to the public until now. The exhibition is open to the public until May 9th (it will be closed from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on April 24th and 25th due to an event).
"The first thing that struck me when I touched the products was the feel of precious materials like vicuña and baby cashmere. They are extremely smooth and don't irritate the skin - something I'd never experienced before. They are warm yet sharp, and if I had to describe them visually I would say they are close to gloss. The brand color, kummel, is brick-red, so it has a warm and heavy feel, but it is also smooth to the touch. Elements that would normally seem unlikely to coexist can coexist at Loro Piana," Aoki said. As Aoki commented, the store's façade, which curves towards the sky, is based on the contradictory concept of architecture that expresses the extremely soft and smooth texture that is Loro Piana's DNA using hard materials.
The facade of the Ginza store is 56 metres high. The top 30 metres appear to soar into the air. Loro Piana's iconic Kummel colour gradually fades from the bottom to the top of the facade, culminating in white at the top. The wavy texture of the facade is created by mirrored steel plates covered with an ultra-thin laminate. The plates are installed at a three-degree angle, and the reflected image creates a unique expression.
A cashmere sofa made by Loro Piana is placed on the fourth floor venue, and true to the exhibition's title, "The Touch Of Architecture," visitors can experience the finest cashmere through their eyes and touch. Images are projected onto a screen made of layered thin fabric using a nostalgic projector owned by Aoki. In addition, two sketches by Aoki created specifically for this exhibition are on display in the back space. The interior, decor, and furniture were all designed by Loro Piana headquarters, and orders are also available.
Jun Aoki / Japanese architect and artist. After graduating from the University of Tokyo, he worked at Isozaki Arata Atelier Co., Ltd. Then, in 1991, with the desire to work on "interesting things," he founded Jun Aoki Architects, Inc. in Tokyo. He is active in a wide range of fields, including public buildings, commercial facilities, and private homes. He also creates art installations and publications. His major works include major Louis Vuitton stores around the world, the Yusuikan swimming pool facilities (1993), the Lagoon Museum (received the Architectural Institute of Japan Award for Design in 1997), and the Aomori Museum of Art (received the Grand Prize in a domestic open competition in 2006). In 2005, he received the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists.
"Aoki Jun Exhibition – The Touch Of Architecture"
Venue: Loro Piana Ginza Store / 3-5-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Dates: April 16th (Friday) - May 9th (Sunday), 2021
Business hours: 11:00 - 20:00 (last admission: 19:30)
Direct line to Ginza store: 03-5579-5181
URL: https://jp.loropiana.com/ja/Ginza-Aoki-Exhibition
*The park will be closed from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Saturday, April 24th and Sunday, April 25th due to an event.
The fourth floor space, usually used as a VIP room, is used to introduce the creation stories of Aoki's works, including the store's façade, as well as those for the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art and the Aomori Museum of Art, through handwritten sketchnotes, objects, and slides that have rarely been shown to the public until now. The exhibition is open to the public until May 9th (it will be closed from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on April 24th and 25th due to an event).
"The first thing that struck me when I touched the products was the feel of precious materials like vicuña and baby cashmere. They are extremely smooth and don't irritate the skin - something I'd never experienced before. They are warm yet sharp, and if I had to describe them visually I would say they are close to gloss. The brand color, kummel, is brick-red, so it has a warm and heavy feel, but it is also smooth to the touch. Elements that would normally seem unlikely to coexist can coexist at Loro Piana," Aoki said. As Aoki commented, the store's façade, which curves towards the sky, is based on the contradictory concept of architecture that expresses the extremely soft and smooth texture that is Loro Piana's DNA using hard materials.
The facade of the Ginza store is 56 metres high. The top 30 metres appear to soar into the air. Loro Piana's iconic Kummel colour gradually fades from the bottom to the top of the facade, culminating in white at the top. The wavy texture of the facade is created by mirrored steel plates covered with an ultra-thin laminate. The plates are installed at a three-degree angle, and the reflected image creates a unique expression.
A cashmere sofa made by Loro Piana is placed on the fourth floor venue, and true to the exhibition's title, "The Touch Of Architecture," visitors can experience the finest cashmere through their eyes and touch. Images are projected onto a screen made of layered thin fabric using a nostalgic projector owned by Aoki. In addition, two sketches by Aoki created specifically for this exhibition are on display in the back space. The interior, decor, and furniture were all designed by Loro Piana headquarters, and orders are also available.
Jun Aoki / Japanese architect and artist. After graduating from the University of Tokyo, he worked at Isozaki Arata Atelier Co., Ltd. Then, in 1991, with the desire to work on "interesting things," he founded Jun Aoki Architects, Inc. in Tokyo. He is active in a wide range of fields, including public buildings, commercial facilities, and private homes. He also creates art installations and publications. His major works include major Louis Vuitton stores around the world, the Yusuikan swimming pool facilities (1993), the Lagoon Museum (received the Architectural Institute of Japan Award for Design in 1997), and the Aomori Museum of Art (received the Grand Prize in a domestic open competition in 2006). In 2005, he received the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists.
"Aoki Jun Exhibition – The Touch Of Architecture"
Venue: Loro Piana Ginza Store / 3-5-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Dates: April 16th (Friday) - May 9th (Sunday), 2021
Business hours: 11:00 - 20:00 (last admission: 19:30)
Direct line to Ginza store: 03-5579-5181
URL: https://jp.loropiana.com/ja/Ginza-Aoki-Exhibition
*The park will be closed from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Saturday, April 24th and Sunday, April 25th due to an event.
