The Flagship Badou-R
About
History
The Badou-R Flagship Store
Nestled behind the grounds of the Nezu Museum, the current Badou-R is actually the second incarnation of the store. The original store was situated an additional five-minute walk away, tucked within a serene residential neighborhood. The name “Badou-R” (literally “Horse Road-R”) traces its origins to the store’s initial location, which historically served as a resting point for horses.
The original Badou-R, constructed in 1999, was a masterpiece of traditional Japanese architecture crafted by sukiya carpenters. Built exclusively from stone, clay, and wood, it showcased the robust beauty of natural materials in a sukiya-style structure.
In contrast, the current Badou-R, completed in 2019, represents a reimagined space that blends the materials and techniques of Japanese architecture with a modern sensibility, resulting in a store that harmoniously bridges tradition and contemporary design.
Architecture
The Making of the Store
Stepping through the noren, you are greeted by glass doors adorned with intriguing patterns. These doors, one of the most distinctive fixtures of Badou-R, create a magical interplay of light and shadow. As sunlight passes through, it casts heart-shaped shadows on the ground, while human silhouettes appear as soft, blurred outlines. This deliberate lack of clarity fosters a sense of comfort for those inside, allowing natural light to diffuse gently throughout the space. This uniquely crafted glass, with its playful design, softens the light as it filters in, creating a cozy atmosphere for those inside.
In front of the glass doors lies a pathway paved with black clay tiles. These tiles, crafted in Nara, are fired at a low temperature to produce a subdued finish, and their depth is further enhanced when dampened with water. At the ends of the pathway on either side are two tokonoma alcoves. The left alcove is adorned with a seasonal floral arrangement, while the right showcases a piece of digital signage crafted to resemble a traditional hanging scroll.
This blend of tradition and modernity invites visitors to experience the essence of 45R in its seasonal and modern expression.
The store’s flooring is paved with machiya-ishi—stones that once adorned traditional townhouses in Kyoto—arranged in a method known as shihan-jiki. This technique, which involves laying stones at a 45-degree angle, is often seen in historic temples. The natural gradient of grayish and brownish tones in the aged machiya-ishi lends the stones a subtly modern feel.
Another highlight of Badou-R is the massive “Takine Stone,” positioned on the left side of the store. Made of granite like the machiya-ishi, this particular stone was quarried in Fukushima Prefecture. Weighing 5 tons originally, it was hollowed out at the quarry before being transported and installed as a fixture in the store. At its center is a naturally formed, eye-like opening, evoking the serene image of a whale leisurely swimming through the ocean.
The walls are coated with plaster, but the ones behind the racks and shelves are finished with Tosa Shikkui, a yellow-tinted plaster. This traditional material, made by kneading in fermented rice straw, is polished and shaved as a finishing touch to accentuate its natural texture. The wooden frames outlining the walls are crafted using a Japanese architectural technique called hakkake, resulting in thin, delicate edging. These framed walls, with a texture reminiscent of stone, clay, or even paper, serve as the perfect backdrop to showcase Badou-R’s clothing.
Finally, let’s explore the store’s fixtures. The brass tabletop is crafted using a traditional technique called sulfur patina. This process involves oxidizing the brass in a kiln to transform its golden luster into a muted, rich brown hue. While this technique is typically used for small metal fittings such as handles, it is rarely applied to a surface of this size. Supporting the brass tabletop are rugged iron bars repurposed from deformed rebar, typically used as reinforcement in concrete construction. This juxtaposition of the luxurious and the humble, the artisanal and the industrial, creates a unique contrast.
At the foundation of its modern and sophisticated design lies the essence of traditional Japanese materials and craftsmanship. Badou-R, which breathes new value into timeless elements of Japan’s heritage, embodies the very philosophy behind our approach to craftsmanship. We draw inspiration from vintage pieces around the world to create clothing for today that is uniquely ours—garments designed to age gracefully and become the vintage of the future. In the same spirit, we will continue crafting spaces that evolve with time, just as our creations are designed to do.
【 Design 】
New Material Research Laboratory
Established in 2008 by artist Hiroshi Sugimoto and architect Tomoyuki Sakakida, "New Material Research Laboratory" is dedicated to researching traditional materials and techniques, striving to create entirely new forms of architecture by incorporating these elements.
Construction: Ishimaru
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