The Ginza is one of the world’s most sophisticated shopping districts and a premium attraction for over 28 million tourists that visit Japan every year.
It houses icons such Renzo Piano’s Hermes building and Jun Mitsui’s DeBeers tower and now the largest and most luxurious design of all; Ginza 6, which opened in 2017.
Described as the World’s Coolest Mall by Architectural Digest, Ginza 6 features 241 stores on more than 47,000 square metres, with 6 floors underground in addition to the 13 floors above and massive roof garden. It’s the Ginza’s largest shopping destination but more impressive than the size is its design and the role art plays in its placemaking.
Architect Yoshio Taniguchi’s exterior design was inspired by traditional Japanese sunshades called Noren.
Inside, designer Gwendal Nicolas pays tribute to the alleyways of Ginza with diverse zig zagging paths through floors of stores and has created lighting influenced by shoji screens. Landscape designer Patrick Blanc has created an impressive living walls featuring native plants and an enormous, peaceful, serene space on the roof. The Kanze Noh theatre aims to break down barriers and celebrate traditional Japanese masked musical dramas in collaboration with the Mori Art Museum and there’s a digital living wall that changes with the sun.
Ginza 6 displays public art installations. The first in the series of featured artists was Yayoi Kusama, who created 14 polka-dotted pumpkins to float within the centre atrium. Works by Shinji Ohmaki, Misa Funai, and Yuumi Domoto have also been featured.
Developers:
L Catterton Real Estate, J. Front Retailing, Sumitomo Corporation,
Mori Building Company
Guest Placemaker: Taku Yamaumi
Video story: Amanda Steele
Building Architect: Yoshio Taniguchi
Interior Design: Gwendal Nicolas
Landscape Design: Patrick Blanc