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#COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS

IMPERFECT CERAMICS GIVEN NEW LIFE IN MARUHIRO FLAGSHIP STORE

Yusuke Seki constructs a sturdy showroom platform from 25,000 pieces of ceramic

Something about a giant pile of perfectly stacked, breakable objects brings out the primordial desire to smash. Or to dive headfirst and go for a swim, which means that patrons of the newly renovated Maruhiro Flagship Store may have to practice some superhuman self control when confronted with this installation by Japanese designer Yusuke Seki. Located in Nagaski, Japan, the store is the showcase for Maruhiro, a Japanese company that is the leading manufacturer of Hasami ceramics which have been produced in the region since the 17th century.

For the renovation, the designer decided on a minimal aesthetic that would highlight the incredible heritage of Hasami ceramics and would offer a new perspective for visitors. Using concrete and 25,000 pieces of ceramic, he built a veritable stage of porcelain which invites visitors to step up and stand upon history. All of the ceramics used in the installation had been declared imperfect after initial bisque-firing and were destined to be discarded. Seki collected the pieces from local companies to be re-purposed for the project and the whole is a beautiful representation of the product’s history and a platform for its future…as long as no one decides to attempt a swim in the ocean of ceramic!

IMPERFECT CERAMICS GIVEN NEW LIFE IN MARUHIRO FLAGSHIP STORE

Details

  • Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
  • Yusuke Seki