Hasta La Gadget!

Starbucks opened up a new concept store in the upscale Tokyo fashion district of Omotesando today. Designed by “The Godfather of Harajuku” Japanese designer Hiroshi Fujiwara

The “B-Side” Starbucks looks uniquely different from the ubiquitous designs of its other branches. Situated in his very back yard where Fujiwara came of age and gained inspiration, it is his first shop design project. Stepping inside it immediately feels different from the many other Starbucks shops around the city.

Tying in earthy materials with a long wooden counter the bench and stools add a distinctly metropolitan city feel to the cafe. Upstairs the brown stools and sofas also show off the main theme of the concept cafe, “natural” and “relax”. Combined with the large wrap around glass windows allowing natural lighting and looking out onto the surrounding trees, not always a common sight in concrete Tokyo, the store has a cosy atmosphere.

The upstairs is nicely designed although the seating doesn’t lend itself exactly to group relaxation, possibly to deter the would be university kids who take up residents nursing a single small coffee all day.

The most noticeable difference is the actual B-Side area of the shop which has a large sliding door and some stylishly designed furniture, a lot more in keeping with the “relax” theme.

The store has also incorporated some playful neon tube lighting signs that play on the mug wording and a selection of design and fashion books on shelves for customers to browse while sipping.

In the future the store plans on selling mugs and limited goods only available at the B-Side concept Starbucks and will host a number of live events.