Abercrombie & Fitch Ginza - Tokyo - Exterior photo of facade and window treatment - Selldorf Architects

Abercrombie & Fitch Ginza

Tokyo, Japan

Abercrombie & Fitch’s new flagship store in Tokyo’s fashionable Ginza shopping district is an elegant addition to the bustling area. A restrictive building site drove the development of a tall, narrow design that is both a powerful architectural statement and an appropriate infill structure.

With 23,000 sf distributed across 11 floors, the design demanded innovative vertical circulation solutions, which include two glass elevators and a glass fire stair connecting all floors and a mezzanine. The building’s steel-and-glass frame determined the exterior proportions.

Design details refer to the original design for the New York City flagship store and its large-scale louver system. The façade juxtaposes the modern steel-and-glass structure and the rich color and texture of the wooden louvers beyond; the sophisticated illumination of both components creates a sense of mystery for the passerby.

(Photography credits: Jamie Barras, WYOs Plus)