Stüssy's Shibuya store interior by Perron-Roettinger draws upon the clothing brand's surfing roots
Woven grass "Tiki Totems", timber frameworks and bold geometric shapes that recall surf culture make up Los Angeles-based design studio Perron-Roettinger's latest store for clothing brand Stüssy in Tokyo.
Called the Stüssy Shibuya Chapter, the store is located on a corner plot in the city's bustling Shibuya ward.
Perron-Roettinger, founded by Willo Perron and Brian Roettinger, wanted to create a store interior that encourages circulation and interactivity.
Instead of the large and open floor plan that is typical of luxury clothing stores, the studio created a series of intimate spaces divided by timber frameworks that double as displays with rails and shelving.
"For the layout of this store we wanted to stay away from a linear floorplan and for people to always be met with different options on how to travel through the space," Willo Perron told Dezeen.
"There isn’t a single way to navigate through and shop the space," he continued. "Despite the fact that it's not a huge store, every time you come you can discover something different."
"Traditional layout of spaces is quite boring and it feels like the path is already chosen for you. I like the idea that different spaces create themselves within the store and you have options in your journey every time."
A curved cash desk clad in mirror-finish stainless steel on the outside and galvanized metal on the interior sits to the left of the entrance. Behind the desk, a wall of perforated stainless mesh is used to create a louvre system that serves as a privacy wall.
A fitting room wrapped by green timber panels and clad inside with an acoustic painted wood-wool material sits in the centre of the store.
"In terms of colours and materials, [the store is] really based on an industrial colour palette," Perron informed.
"We tend to always use warehouse greys, blues and greens that you would see in factories or similar spaces. The materials are also similar; a refined version of base building materials with a fair amount of polish to it."
The shop floor is interspersed with a series of angular planters made from green marble and filled with palm plants, as well as a family of Tiki Totems.
Designed by Perron Roettinger and made from woven grasses in Los Angeles, the sculptures nod to Stussy's Californian surfing roots.
"Retail spaces inherently need function; you need to be able to present, fold, and store clothes, have changing rooms and a cash desk, but we're also trying to build iconography into each store," said Perron in reference to the Tiki Totems.
"The DNA of Stüssy, particularly the early t-shirt graphics era, used a lot of tiki references. I thought it'd be great to modernise and hybrid it with a postmodern geometry. It also has a bit of a sense of humour and gives the store some identity."
The Stüssy Shibuya Chapter store joins the American brand's worldwide Chapter network. This is conceptualised by Perron Roettinger and compliments the design direction of the Shanghai, Nagoya and Kyoto Chapter locations, also designed by the LA-based design studio.
Perron-Roettinger, which also designed Stüssy's Milan and London outposts, works across interiors, branding and identity, print, and live events.
The studio was the creative mind behind Rihanna's Savage X Fenty show, Drake's 3D tour stage, and album covers for Jay-Z & St Vincent. Its interiors portfolio includes projects for Fenty, SKIMS and private residences.
Another recently-opened luxury streetwear boutique is Axel Arigato's Parisian flagship, where design studio Halleroed has used travertine podiums to display sneakers like sculptures.
Photography is by Munetaka Onodera.