A Japanese third space collection: Lifestyle Store/Third Space in Daikanyama, Tokyo, Private Library + Cafe and Small Theater/Music Cafe for Solo Customers in Kyoto
Ordermade #4
第4号
Welcome to the fourth edition of Ordermade (オーダーメイド).
Ordermade curates all things tasteful, including art, fashion, interiors, architecture, music, and literature, with Japanese sensibilities every week. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe below.
In this edition, I will share my recent discoveries of three unique third spaces. Each one possesses its own special features and atmosphere.
5:00 | DAIKANYAMA T-SITE suggests a lifestyle through books, films, and music
At Daikanyama T-Site, there is more to explore than just a bookstore. Tsutaya Books offers customers the opportunity to purchase a variety of books while also enjoying a cup of coffee at the lounge or Starbucks inside. Plus, there are art pieces on display and lifestyle products, and even toys for children for purchase. The tables outside provide the perfect spot to socialize with friends. There is also a coworking space available for those who need to work. Surrounding Tsutaya Books are various other shops, including a grocery store, gallery, bakery, bike shop, and dentist. Together, these shops create a unique and diverse experience at Daikanyama T-Site.
Tsutaya was mainly recognized as a store that rents albums and DVDs but the arrival of Tsutaya Books and T-Site transformed the reputation of the “book store.”
You don’t have to be someone to be there. You don’t have to have a specific purpose. You don’t have to buy anything to feel satisfied. You can just visit T-Site and follow your curiosity.
As you step inside the Tsutaya Books building, you will be amazed by the vast collection of books. However, the labels on the walls and shelves simplify the process of finding your way around the bookstore.
Among so many different sections, my favorite was the lounge on the second floor where you can read back issues of various magazines, ranging from Japanese publications such as Brutus and Popeye to Architectural Digest and Vogue magazines. The lounge itself is thoughtfully designed with elegant low sofas, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere for reading or chatting. You also have the option to bring books upstairs from the lower level for reading.
7:00 | Private library + Cafe in Kyoto
I want to create a place where time flows slowly. The private library and cafe designed for this purpose are called "Donkou / Kissa Fang."
As the daily flow of life surrounding people accelerates, being deliberately slow away from the speed demanded by societal systems and technology. And to continuously think voluntarily about the joy and health as a human. That's the time we want to encourage at "Donkou."
Enjoying carefully roasted and brewed coffee while reading a book. This simple, solitary time, and the mutual feeling with someone from the past through books, I believe, will become the basis for the emergence and richness of future humans. Hence, I open "Donkou" here.
This café and library space is run by Hirokatsu Habahiro, who is the representative and book director of BACH, Inc. (This company is involved in everything related to books, from operating bookstores and libraries to editing and producing books.)
"Dunko" is located in a quiet area with a beautiful view of a distant cypress forest and a small stream nearby.
The first floor of this building, designed to create a "place where time flows slowly," serves as a private library where one can read about 3,000 books archived by BACH since its establishment in 2005. At the attached "Kissa Fang," one can enjoy coffee roasted deep with a hand-cranked home roaster, brewed using a Nel drip.
The architect Yasutsugu Horibe, who has been planning along with Habahiro from the land-searching stage, has combined traditional Japanese residential architecture techniques with the latest technology to create a cozy, warm, and quietly flowing time unique to this place.
Also, the construction company Hane Architectural Studio, which was responsible for the construction, used a traditional Japanese construction method called "hand-carving" throughout the project, beautifully implementing Horibe's plan and creating an architectural attraction that appeals to the senses.
In today's world, where the battle for time is fierce and the distance between people and books is gradually increasing, we are still seeking "something that can only be conveyed through books."
"Dunko" is a space created for deeply immersing in each book (= wisdom of our predecessors), experiencing the "slowness" that is distanced from the immediacy and daily high-speed rotation demanded by current technology and social structure, even if for a brief moment. It's an experimental lab for books and time, looking toward the future.
"Dunko" accepts reservations for only six people for 90 minutes (rotated three times a day) via online reservations.
I am also excited to dig deeper into the works of BACH, Inc. as they have done many interesting projects.
8:00 | Small theater/”music cafe for solo customers”
Cafe Montage, located in Kyoto, was nothing like any other cafe I’d been to. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with a breathtaking view of the entire space. I noticed that each section had its own individual charm, with a unique set of chairs, tables, and lighting. The walls were adorned with books and vinyl records, and classical music played softly in the background.
There are only seven seats available, and you must sit alone. Additionally, conversation is prohibited in the cafe. This atmosphere is intended for individuals who wish to appreciate the music, literature, and slowness.
This venue welcomes a wide variety of classical artists and frequently puts on concerts in a cozy setting. If you happen to stop by, you may even catch a live rehearsal in progress.
There are more cafes I’d like to introduce, but that’s it for this issue.