‘cocoons’ by patkau architects, tokyo, japan billy poh, courtesy of comme des garcons

 

 

 

vancouver-based practice patkau architects have designed ‘cocoons’, free-standing units to be placed within the dover street market ginza in tokyo for japanese brand comme des garçons. conceptually derived from the silent figures of naturally-forming cocoons, pausing within nature, these partially enclosed shelters may be placed in pairs within the retail floors of the store serving as a changing room or display. intended to meet the fire codes of the city, the element’s bodies are formed with  metal panels which are seamlessly assembled.

 

three pattern-cut 18 gauge stainless steel sheets are interconnected with flanges along spines and mid-panel seams, reinforced with drilled and tapped 7 gauge stainless steel plates which accept countersunk fasteners. these panels are welded to 3 gauge base plates and then to a hollow structural section steel frame for rigidity. the base of the frame is a 1″ thick acrylic floor that is illuminated from below. a pivoting steel-framed door surfaced with sheer white fabric offers privacy while allowing a soft illumination to emanate from the interior.

patkau architects: cocoons

free-standing screens within store layout image courtesy of patkau architects

patkau architects: cocoons units within the fabricator facility image courtesy of james dow

patkau architects: cocoons side view of the pair of changing units

image courtesy of james dow

patkau architects: cocoons three pattern-cut steel sheets form the body of the units

image courtesy of james dow

patkau architects: cocoons details of the 18 gauge stainless steel sheet enclosure

images courtesy of james dow

patkau architects: cocoons acrylic floor illuminated from below

image courtesy of james dow

patkau architects: cocoons top view of the acrylic floor

image courtesy of james dow

patkau architects: cocoons base plan image courtesy of patkau architects

patkau architects: cocoons section image courtesy of patkau architects

patkau architects: cocoons elevations image courtesy of patkau architects

patkau architects: cocoons elevation image courtesy of patkau architects

patkau architects: cocoons panel layout image courtesy of patkau architects

patkau architects: cocoons panel flanges image courtesy of patkau architects

patkau architects: cocoons base flanges image courtesy of patkau architects

patkau architects: cocoons sheet layout image courtesy of patkau architects

 

 

project info:

 

client: comme des garçons / dover street market ginza (dsmg) area: 2.7 m2 (1.35 m2 x 2 cocoons) architectural team: matthew bunza, james eidse, john patkau, patricia patkau fabricators / consultants: asi plastics, carmel designs, macs ii lighting, quest metal works photography: james dow