Winner of the BLT 2022 Interior Design of the Year, KAMA-ASA Shop is an architectural project designed by KAMITOPEN Co., Ltd. in Japan. We talked to the lead designer Masahiro Yoshida who shared with us his inspiration behind the award-winning project.
Could you tell us a little about your professional journey?
I was born in 1977 in Osaka, Japan. In 2001, I graduated from the department of architecture, Kyoto Institute of Technology “Waro Kishi laboratory”, and I joined TAKARA SPACE DESIGN the same year. I established KAMITOPEN architects in 2008, an Architecture Office firm centered around Interior Design.
How/when did you discover that you wanted to work in design?
I chose my career path when I was in high school.
What was your inspiration to create KAMA-ASA Shop?
I was inspired by the craftsmen who make kitchen knives. As KAMA-ASA Shop’s policy is set on the belief that good tools are made for good reason, it delivers to the customers the excellent skills of craftsmen creating kitchen utensils. Therefore, the most appropriate for the shop’s space was to show the architectural skills of craftsmen. The rebar, a stick-shaped rolled steel that is usually hidden in the wall became the main feature of the design.
What was most important for you when planning this project?
Since the renovation 10 years ago led to this new construction project, the 10-year commitment of the client and staff was most important.
Can you please share with us what winning the “Interior Design of the Year” prize means to you?
We are pleased to have been recognized for the work we have done over the past 10 years with our clients. It encourages us to continue to work with the same stance for the next 10 years.
What are you working on at the moment, and do you have any upcoming project or upgrade that you’re able to tell us about?
I am currently designing a solo sauna facility. It is a space where you can feel the outside environment while being indoors, using the latest technology. I am interested in eliminating the boundary between indoors and outdoors.
