Interview with MAKOTO KOIZUMI / Koizumi Studio —part 2
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when I design, I pursued the best SHAPE without any lies or tricks
— Makoto Koizumi / Koizumi Studio
photography : Nacasa & Partners
words : Reiji Yamakura/IDREIT
continue from part 1
— Lastly, not only for these two stores, please tell me what you believe important for space designing.
There are two things that I believe essential. The first one is “sustainability,” which is the same as the story of Plantation. It is not just about long time use. For example, if it's an exhibition venue uses only for a few days, we simply use foamed polystyrene. I design differently according to the purpose of usage and length of use.
Koizumi Studio designed exhibition space with foamed polystyrene for Plantation with in 2001.
Not only making products, but it is also important how we can make people want to use a product for a long time. A long time ago, I designed a cafe. After about ten years of business, the owner kept disassembled interior materials. After that, they asked me to design their confectionary atelier, and we reused those materials. I was pleased as a designer because the owner was very thoughtful in preserving the architectural materials.
Another example will be the white plaster wall of Plantation Ginza. It used plaster with waste papers such as DM and tags of their brand. I asked the store staff what to mix, and as a result, the staff started to feel the sustainability of the store as “my thing,” not as somebody else’s business. Then they began to tell the story about wall materials to shoppers. And as a result, the store became an ideal case of “the store itself last in people's memory.”
After the discussion with the client, Koizumi installed old paper mixed white plaster wall for Plantation Ginza Store. It shows unique texture and tell the story of their sustainable philosophy.
Koizumi has designed sophisticated custom-made garment rack combining thin regs and round shape pipes in Plantation Aoyama store.
— What about the other one?
It is to think about “what is really needed for the design.” I always think about what we really need, such as the lines on the drawing, necessary functions, etc. We draw thousands of lines when we design, but we have to take responsibility for each line. And we can only draw lines that make sense. For example, by cutting notch of the legs for the clothes racks of the Aoyama store, we could strengthen the joint. I always explore such meaning of lines and design things.
— Do you think about Japaneseness in your design?
I always think that “get rid of unnecessary things and add necessary things.” Still, I do not particularly care about Japaneseness in colors and shapes. In terms of Japaneseness, I think that solving problems with creativity and originality is very Japanese. I also think to do so.
The designer created bench and wooden table for Plantation Ginza store. The bench can be used as a display table. Both of fixture was made by Japanese-cedar-made cross laminated panel.
Koizumi Studio designed wooden door handle. (courtesy of Koizumi Studio)
They installed natural pebble-made wall hook for the Plantation store. (courtesy of Koizumi Studio)
Also, in the space I designed, you may feel some sense of Japan from the materials. At Plantation stores, I only want to use materials that change over time and become more charming with patina, such as cedar, raw steel, plaster, etc. Also, I want to use only materials that I can use with confidence, and I do not want to tell lies there. Similarly, when I design, I pursued the best shape or design without any lies or tricks. It can be found by sharpening my design.
In the rapidly changing fashion industry, a designer Makoto Koizumi showed his consistent attitude with the fact that he designed the brand store for 20 years and his words, “it is important for me to create something which people want to use for a long time.”
Behind the thorough design process, there is a belief of Koizumi Studio's sincere attitude towards a single line.
MAKOTO KOIZUMI
Born in Tokyo in 1960. Apprenticed to Choei and Shigemitsu Hara. Established ‘Koizumi Studio’ in 1990. Opened ‘Koizumi Dougu-ten’ as a place to communicate his design. Koizumi designs everything in life, from architecture to chopstick rests and works with craftsmen and manufacturer all over Japan. Received Mainichi Design Award in 2012, Nihon Crafts Exhibition Award in 2015.
