Koichi Futatsumata Discusses WINE & SWEETS TSUMONS

This project is for a shop where customers can enjoy the new combination of wine and Western confections, offered by the owner who is both a patissier and a sommelier. The site is in an area of Fukuoka city center where residences and mid-rise buildings are mixed haphazardly. The plot itself is very narrow and surrounded by apartment buildings of over ten stories, yet the owner wished for a single-story structure.

Through our discussions, we aimed for the space to embody the humility and quiet strength of a craftsperson, reflecting the owner's new culinary proposals. Simultaneously, we considered the implications of building a single-story structure amidst a cityscape that is otherwise a jumble of varied uses and heights.

The Roof Becomes Another Facade

The building is composed of a box-like volume into which a shed roof, steeply sloped towards the south, is integrated. A retail space is positioned on the street side, with a counter space behind it. Facing both of these areas is a narrow, open passage for staff circulation along the south side.

This arrangement ensures a sense of calm within the shop, contrasting with the cluttered streetscape. It also transforms the backdrop for the two main spaces into a semi-outdoor scene bathed in soft light, further framed by a large, frameless horizontal window.

The passage is finished with large-aggregate asphalt shingles, the same material used for the roof, which allows for good water retention. We envision that plants, such as mazebell, partially introduced from the start, will gradually cover the textured walls and roof over time. Eventually, this roof is intended to become another "facade," serving as a "tsuboniwa" (small Japanese garden) for the surrounding residents.

The space above this single-story building, surrounded by taller structures, opens up to the sky, which is a distinctive feature. We hope this characteristic enhances the value of the shop itself (and its brand), and that the building, integrated into the urban fabric, will contribute to creating a better environment in the community.

WINE & SWEETS TSUMONS (2014 / Fukuoka)
Design: CASE-REAL, Koichi Futatsumata, Tomoki Kataoka
Design Support & Construction: JIKU KOUBOU
Lighting Design: Modulex Fukuoka, Masaaki Sato
Furniture Production: E&Y
Photography: Hiroshi Mizusaki

Client: WINE&SWEETS tsumons (http://wine-sweets.com/)
Location: Takasago, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Project Type: New Construction
Use: Restaurant
Project Period: February 2013 – February 2014
Structure: Wooden
Scale: 1 Story Above Ground
Building Area: 65.3 sqm (approx. 19.8 tsubo)
Site Area: 87.3 sqm (approx. 26.4 tsubo)

CASE-REAL
http://www.casereal.com/