GIORGIO ARMANI | Junya Ishigami on Giorgio Armani's Minimalist Aesthetics and Modernity

GIORGIO ARMANI｜Giorgio Armani

Architect Junya Ishigami Discusses

Giorgio Armani's Minimalist Aesthetics and Modernity (1)

When one speaks of Japan's leading young architects, Junya Ishigami is surely among the first names that come to mind. Here, Mr. Ishigami shares his thoughts on his own architectural creations and the world ofGiorgio Armani.

Photographs by TSUNODA MidoriStyling by IKEDA NaokiEdit by NAKAMURA Akiko (OPENERS)

On His Own Creations and Armani's

Balance Gains Strength Through the Fusion of Thought and Reality—He challenges existing conventions with his unique perspective, redefining space and proposing new ways of perceiving architecture. His works fluidly traverse architecture, philosophy, nature, and art. Junya Ishigami is undoubtedly one of the most frequently mentioned names when discussing Japan's leading young architects today.

Architect Junya Ishigami

Ishigami began his career in 2000 at Kazuyo Sejima & Associates, and in 2004, he established his own firm, Junya Ishigami Architects. His representative works include "Table," "Cubic Balloon," and "KAIT Workshop, Kanagawa Institute of Technology," all of which are simple yet unique, resonating with products, architecture, space, and people in a natural manner.

Currently, Mr. Ishigami is actively engaged in global projects, including a residential complex in Paris, a visitor center in the Netherlands, and a science and technology museum in Russia.

For this feature, Mr. Ishigami donned Giorgio Armani and visited the Armani/Casa floor at Armani/Ginza Tower, given the connection between his work and interior design. He shared his thoughts on his own creations and the world of Giorgio Armani.

“I'm currently working with an Italian furniture manufacturer, and everyone there seems to be involved with their families. Many are family businesses. Perhaps it's related to this, but Italian design has a very open and warm image. Even the most intense personalities often have a certain charm.”

He speaks of how designer Giorgio Armani was greatly influenced by his parents, which is reflected in his designs, and how his relatives are involved in the business.

Giorgio Armani designs across various lifestyle domains—from apparel and interiors to food, travel, and beauty—based on the philosophy of “how to live comfortably and how to make oneself look beautiful.” Does this align with Ishigami's own creative process?

On the Armani/Casa floor

“Personally, I don't consciously think about a special relationship between fashion and lifestyle. After all, when you live your daily life, you wear clothes, eat food, and recline on a sofa. It's natural as a human being. Therefore, I don't want to consciously consider those relationships. Rather, I prefer things to unfold naturally, with as little intervention as possible, to the point where there's no discernible boundary between what I've touched and what I haven't. The 'naturalness' that connects to unconscious comfort is more important.”

GIORGIO ARMANI｜Giorgio Armani

Architect Junya Ishigami Discusses

Giorgio Armani's Minimalist Aesthetics and Modernity (2)

This was Mr. Ishigami's first visit to the Armani/Casa floor at Armani/Ginza Tower. We asked for his impressions.

“It's incredibly stylish. Furniture can be made by architects, by craftspeople, by fashion designers, or even by hobbyists doing DIY. When you look at the finished product, the maker's background is always evident. I think about furniture in the same way I think about architecture.Giorgio Armaniprobably doesn't see a difference between designing furniture and interiors and designing clothing, do you?”

On the Armani/Casa floor

Armani/Casa creates luxurious spaces through the use of high-quality materials, textures, and stylish design, while eliminating the superfluous. For instance, the way furniture acts as a reflector to enhance the beauty of those in its presence is certainly a sensibility unique to a fashion designer. And the ability to prioritize the tactile sensation of the finest fabrics over leather might be something only a brand from the world of fashion could achieve.

Accessories are also available

“An architect's work, whether it's a building or an exhibition, always begins with certain conditions. Someone might say, 'Build a building on this site,' or 'Curate an exhibition within this space.' The client's desires are clearly visible. Therefore, we approach the project to the best of our ability within those conditions, and sometimes those conditions are what spark new ideas. Furthermore, considering that completing a single project can take many years, I don't want to undertake anything half-heartedly (laughs). His passion for his work is likely something he shares with Mr. Giorgio Armani.”

Finally, we asked, “If you were to collaborate with Armani, what would you like to do?”

“That's a good question. Since he's someone who can do anything, I think a collaboration should be something enjoyable. Perhaps something challenging, like food. It could be a restaurant menu, but what I'd really like to do is sweets. Sweets come in lovely boxes, and it would be interesting to focus on the plates. Something beautiful, that everyone can enjoy, and that disappears in an instant.”

Junya ISHIGAMI
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1974. After completing his Master's degree in Architecture at Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School in 2000, he worked at Kazuyo Sejima & Associates from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, he established Junya Ishigami Architects. He served as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of Science from 2009 to 2011 and has been an associate professor at Tohoku University Graduate School since 2010. His major works include "Table" (2005, recipient of the Kirin Award at "Kirin Art Project 2005"), "Cubic Balloon" (2007), and "KAIT Workshop, Kanagawa Institute of Technology" (2009, recipient of the 2009 Architectural Institute of Japan Prize). In 2010, he received the Golden Lion at the 12th Venice Architecture Biennale, and in 2012, the Commissioner's Award for the Arts, International Arts Division, from the Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://jnyi.jp