HIKESHI

Typology: Residential

Client: Hikeshi Spirit

Location: Kyoto, Japan

Involvement: Retail & Interior Design

Art Direction: Toshihiro Sato

Speaker manufature: Kengo Kewa Tanaka

Art: Mami Mozi

Lighting Design: Calathea Light

Date of completion: March 2017

Photography: Kaoru Yamada

Hikeshi’s store concept was inspired by the spirit and aesthetics of Edo period firefighters combined with contemporary urban streetwear.

During the Edo period, firefighters, known as “hikeshi,” played a crucial role in society due to frequent fires in densely populated cities like Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Music played an important role in their operations. Sounds composed with taiko drums, whistles, and bells could be heard over long distances, cutting through noise and confusion.

To make an ode to the importance of music also being present in contemporary urban streetwear culture, speakers are seamlessly placed within the furniture, adding an immersive audio experience that enhances the store’s experience.

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