claesson koivisto rune: ceramika showroom

claesson koivisto rune: ceramika ceramic tableware showroomimage © takumi ota

swedish architects claesson koivisto rune designed the ‘ceramika’ flagship store – a ceramic tableware showroom, shop and café, located in matsumoto in the mountainous nagano prefecture, some 200 km northwest of tokyo. matsumoto is a centre of traditional crafts, such as wood, lacquerware and fabric – oddly perhaps then that the ceramic series of cups, plates and bowls at ceramika are european and not japanese.

image © takumi ota

the ceramika showroom is located in the city centre in a former city hall building along the matsumoto river. the space was completely stripped and the new interior is kept simple but with refined details. the layout arranged on a strict repetitive grid, with the colours and materials of the interior chosen to harmonize with the porcelain which is mostly blue and white. the wood furniture was designed by claesson koivisto rune and manufactured by carpenter master hara-san.

image © takumi ota

the project was a fruitful collaboration between the swedish architects and the japanese client mr. hiroshi arai, owner of the ceramika showroom. many of the pieces in the project were designed especially by claesson koivisto rune and manufactured locally in japan, such as the display furniture, tables and clothes hangers. other pieces also designed by claesson koivisto rune were produced by manufacturers such as almedahls, david design, tacchini, and wästberg.

simple wooden furniture allows the ceramic products on display to take centre stageimage © takumi ota

the aim was to create a space which was strict, yet humble. as an enhancing frame for the ceramic objects at display and a small cafe with both indoors and outdoors seating.

the cafe area is decorated with pendant lamps by claesson koivisto rune for wästbergimage © takumi ota