Vivre Yokohama

Renewal project for “ VIVRE YOKOHAMA” shopping mall, located in west side of Yokohama terminal station in where the average number of passengers per day is the worlds’ number five.

The building itself is built with materials suitable for renovation, so we redesigned the detail and form of the building using those original materials. As a renovation example, renovation of Meatpacking and Brooklyn in New York, magically transformed to trend leading area from warehouse district, were given.

Besides the similar bricked construction, there are significant overlaps between environment of Yokohama VIVRE which has broad open area and a river running in front, and Chelsea which is the renovation of warehouse district along Hudson River and Brooklyn, so we made a proposition including the ambient surroundings but the building only.

Started by considering the traffic line from the open area and planting, and accentuated the exterior wall with riveted mill-scale finish Double-Ts. In the lower part, tiled aged brick-style tiles to provide the exterior walls industrial details and form mixed atmosphere. In the building, using expressive materials such as tiles, tin ceiling, etc. and set several sitting area to show the customers a good time.

After those renovation work, Yokohama VIVRE transformed to the shopping mall that may misplace the customers Brooklyn without leaving Japan.

Ito Masaru Design Project / SEI