Exhibition/event has ended.
Department Stores – An Architectural History of Dreams and Aspirations
Takashimaya Archives Tokyo
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This exhibition explores the history of department stores from the early 20th century, when the modern department store was born, to the present day, when many large-scale commercial facilities have emerged. It presents a chronological display, focusing on the facades of Japanese department store architecture and the evolution of their spaces.
Particularly noteworthy is the experimental department store architecture of the prewar period. At that time, these facilities invited people's admiration and were more than mere spaces for shopping; they functioned as entertainment and, ultimately, as cultural institutions. The roles of department stores were reflected in their architectural spaces and facades. The rooftop garden is one such example. Matsuya Asakusa (1931, designed by Misao Kuno), which still has a strong presence as a terminal building today, once had a full-scale amusement park and zoo on its roof. The Shirokiya Nihombashi store (1928, designed by Kikuji Ishimoto), which no longer exists, had a modern façade that broke with the trend toward imposing department store architecture by using glass on its walls. These examples are valuable reminders of the glamour of department store architecture in the past. This show is a chance to rediscover how deeply commerce has been involved in the formation of the modern city and to consider possibilities for the future.
Particularly noteworthy is the experimental department store architecture of the prewar period. At that time, these facilities invited people's admiration and were more than mere spaces for shopping; they functioned as entertainment and, ultimately, as cultural institutions. The roles of department stores were reflected in their architectural spaces and facades. The rooftop garden is one such example. Matsuya Asakusa (1931, designed by Misao Kuno), which still has a strong presence as a terminal building today, once had a full-scale amusement park and zoo on its roof. The Shirokiya Nihombashi store (1928, designed by Kikuji Ishimoto), which no longer exists, had a modern façade that broke with the trend toward imposing department store architecture by using glass on its walls. These examples are valuable reminders of the glamour of department store architecture in the past. This show is a chance to rediscover how deeply commerce has been involved in the formation of the modern city and to consider possibilities for the future.
Schedule | Sep 7 (Wed) 2022-Feb 12 (Sun) 2023 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Free | ||||||
| Venue | Takashimaya Archives Tokyo https://www.takashimaya.co.jp/shiryokan/tokyo/  | ||||||
| Location | 4F / 5F Nihombashi Takashimaya, 2-4-1 Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8265 | ||||||
| Access | Direct walk from exit B1 at Nihombashi Station on the Ginza and Tozai lines, 5 minute walk from Yaesu North exit of JR Tokyo Station, 5 minute walk from exit D4 at Nihombashi Station on the Toei Asakusa line. | ||||||
| Phone | 03-3211-4111 | ||||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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