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.