Step inside the largest Starbucks in the world, located in the Nakameguro neighborhood of Tokyo. The 32,000-square-foot, four-floor roaster is heavily influenced by traditional Japanese architecture.
Designed by architect Kengo Kuma, the design team sought input from local craftsman to tailor the construction to its primary audience.
The wooden geometric ceiling is inspired by the art of origami.
Other aspects of the design resemble the cherry blossoms that line the Meguro River.
Each person involved in the design had the opportunity to hammer the bronze sprinkled throughout the building, giving it its unusual texture.
The open-plan design guides patrons from one area to the next, giving them a glimpse into the production of roasting coffee.
The ground floor houses the roaster’s barrels and initial ordering station. The second floor opens up into a traditional Japanese teavana bar. The third is Starbucks Japan’s first cocktail bar. The top floor is the “amu inspiration lounge” — inspired by the Japanese word “amu,” meaning to knit together.
This Starbucks hopes to be a gathering space for leaders and thinkers. Its first event celebrated the role of women leaders in Japan.