The Mass

architechu

The disappearance of boundaries
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Space is an organism. In the city, it changes its form organically through the scale of buildings, the relationship between space and people, and the communication between the area of space and the area of nature. This is also evident when reading society and space.
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Today's space directly connects the city and buildings, as well as the relationship between space and people, without any boundaries. Located in Omotesando, Tokyo, this space communicates with the city through the alleys and winding paths behind Omotesando. The experience of walking on a pedestrian-focused street is completely different when walking straight versus walking around corners. Walking straight, you can walk without paying much attention to the road and easily confirm your destination. However, walking around corners forces you to continue checking the path and makes the same distance feel a little longer. Walking around corners while observing your surroundings allows you to experience various scenes visually. This becomes a way to enjoy the city to the fullest. Meeting today's space with these winding paths uniquely makes you perceive it as part of the city and think of it as one of the many streets.
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There is nothing to obstruct human entry into the space. In other words, there are no entry doors or windows that turn the space into a closed area, allowing you to simply walk up and take a look around or cross through it. In fact, you can sit on the slope and watch without using the scenes shown in this space, such as cafes and galleries.
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Furthermore, the people who maintain the space pay no attention whatsoever. The owner of the enclosed space, who is inside a small box, does not start a conversation until someone speaks to them first. This service method shows that everyone can enjoy the space as if it were part of the city and connected to it.
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What is interesting is that this completely open space without any boundaries is greatly influenced by the lack of internal and external boundaries, experiencing the impact of the natural environment. When it's hot, the heat comes in, and when it's cold, the cold comes in. In a country like Japan with four seasons, this is not a suitable way of creating space. However, thanks to this expression, it is perceived more as part of the city than simply being experienced within the category of buildings.
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Just as one knows that walking outside in winter feels cold because it's winter, this space persuades people about how the space operates in a similar manner.
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Even the raw concrete blocks without decoration lend credibility to all of this content. Instead of forcefully asserting that the building is a single area, the unadorned building settles down heavily and presents a contemplation similar to a rock on the street. Particularly, the beautiful proportions shown by the space make it appear not just as a rock but rather as an artwork encountered in the city.
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Looking at the past, this place often changes its appearance and becomes a pop-up store. However, the scenes typically shown in the space are cafes and small galleries.
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This is a space without boundaries <the mass>
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📍Location _ 5 Chome-11-1 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
⏰Operating hours _ 10-19
🚗No parking ❌
📝💵 Coffee _ Americano 400 yen, Latte 500 yen