Schemata Architects — Descent Blanc MARK IS Minato Mirai — Yokohama, Japan

Jo Nagasaka (Schemata Architects) recently completed the design for DESCENTE BLANC’s 5th store located at MARK IS Minato Mirai, a large shopping mall in Yokohama.The store space had a high ceiling, and the ceiling height became even higher by removing the existing finish to expose the original ceiling. The design for all of the DESTENTE BLANC stores is based on the concept of “redesigning the store staff’s routine action of picking up items from the stockroom” and use vertically moving display units hung from the ceiling.

Taking advantage of the generous ceiling height; Nagasaka installed vertically moving double-bar display units. They adjusted the height of the display units so that the hemline of clothes would align with the “imaginary” ceiling line when the display units are set at the highest position, and the lighting is aligned at the same level. It is intended to look as if a thick chunk of clothes is hidden in the plenum.