Barista Pro Shop Tokyo, Japan

Barista Pro Shop, one from the chain of Streamer Cofee Company is a very unusual cafe. Situated in the district of Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan this building stands out due to it’s resemblance of a shipping container tilted vertically. I was not sure if it was a real shipping container used for the construction, but after a closer examination, I discovered  that it is only a design solution.

Click image to enlarge

Located on a small triangular plot, that used to be a parking lot, the ground floor of the building is merely 10 m². The idea behind the design of the shop is to show the manly and robust nature of string coffee by the use of steel walls, wood  and concrete. The 2nd and 3rd level temporarily hosts Armani concept store at this is a very upmarket fashion oriented neighbourhood.

There are benches provided outside as the building itself has a small footprint and not all the customers fit inside. The space provided is actively used: as visible in one of the pictures. During the day the plot was occupied by a professional photo-shooting.

More pictures of the Barista Pro Shop Harajuku:

Asamagatake Rest House viewing deck, Japan

Interesting design from 60’s, on Ise-Shima Skyline – picturesque privately owned mountain top road. The Rest House is closed for quite a while now and used to be a restaurant.

Building and some of the surrounding views:

click to enlarge

The shape of the building is designed after shrines nearby Ise city (most important Shinto shrines).  However to my western eye the roof shape reminds fish!

Stone steps in front of the building are reused stones from tramway line what was running in Ise city until 1961.

One of the most famous feature used to be sitting outside with the feet soaked in naturally warm water, gazing into the Pacific Ocean (supposedly on an extremely clear day you could see mount Fuji).