Tsutaya - Klein Dytham

Klein Dytham to a T

Klein Dytham's subtle design for Japanese book shop Tsutaya sees them cover the facade with interlocking Ts

When Royal College of Art graduates Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham opened their practice in Tokyo in the early 1990s, the expression ‘wing and a prayer’ came to mind. What were a Brit and a German – all be it one born in Italy – doing setting up shop among all that Far Eastern minimalism, and among all that highly accomplished, and established, home-grown talent?

 

Tsutaya - Klein Dytham
Tsutaya - Klein Dytham

But since then, KDa has built up a portfolio of good-looking and interesting projects, a personal highlight being the Leaf Chapel, a perforated wedding venue with views of Mount Fuji.

And here’s another textured façade from the multi-disciplinary, multi-national team. This time it’s latticing, which covers a new Tokyo outlet for a major Japanese book, music and film retailer. The handiwork is actually myriad interlocking T-shapes, which are intended as subtle branding for the CD, DVD and book store, Tsutaya.

 

Tsutaya - Klein Dytham
Tsutaya - Klein Dytham