In the heart of Kyoto’s Sanjo district, a new dialogue between tradition and modernity unfolds within the Issey Miyake Kyoto store, a space meticulously crafted by Naoto Fukasawa.
Housed in a 132-year-old machiya, the renovation respects the structure’s historic integrity while introducing a contemporary minimalism imbued with quiet sophistication. The entire project revolves around the color grey—an homage to sumi, the deep, muted shade of charcoal that reflects the essence of both Kyoto’s subdued aesthetic and Issey Miyake’s restrained elegance.
Fukasawa’s intervention is subtle yet precise. The storefront maintains the machiya’s characteristic wooden lattices and noren curtain, shifting in tone with the seasons. Inside, the interplay of texture and material—matt grey plaster, dark timber, and concrete—creates a spatial rhythm that heightens the experience of Miyake’s carefully curated designs. Clothing lines the walls in a considered arrangement, punctuated by vibrant accents from Bao Bao bags and an exclusive Kyoto-edition Edge Coat in striking orange. The interplay of shadow and structure enhances the serene atmosphere, allowing the garments to breathe within the space.
At the store’s rear, a glass wall opens onto a monochromatic courtyard, a sea of meticulously selected grey pebbles punctuated by two seasonal trees. This leads to Kura, a former storehouse transformed into an exhibition space. The inaugural display bursts into contrast—an explosion of primary colors from the Ikko Tanaka Issey Miyake collection, linking contemporary graphic design with Kyoto’s printing traditions. Fukasawa describes the challenge of harmonizing the various shades of grey across different materials, yet the result is a masterclass in restraint and balance, a space that honors the past while embracing the fluidity of the present.
