Land+Living: City Within a City

Architecture, Interiors, Urban — September 5, 2005 Posted by Deborah

Super Potato does block 7

A 'city within a city' is a phrase used in Japan to describe a cluster of buildings connected by industry type, restaurants, recreational facilities and occasionally residences. Shiodome Shiosite is one of Tokyo's newest complexes consisting of skyscrapers that house media giants like Nippon Television and Dentsu Inc., one of the largest advertising agencies in Japan.

The Caretta Shiodome is 51 floors of Dentsu inc. office space, restaurants and bars, museums and retail. However, stop at the 7th floor and find something different: an open concept project called My City designed by the interior design firm Super Potato Co. using 11 materials salvaged from the city to build walls and add texture and detail.

Link: Super Potato

Through repetition and the juxtaposition of synthetic materials like computer parts against natural materials like wood and stone, Super Potato is able to create contrast and interest. The use of salvaged materials is unexpected, and seems to be in stark contrast to the Shiodome itself which is new and superficial. Super Potato confesses to trying to foster a sense of community by keeping the space open instead of throwing up walls and directing traffic. The result is clean and ordered, yet intriguing. Super Potato is led by principal Takashi Sugimoto who offers no explanation for their name.

4 comments

Comments (4)

matthew jackson — September 6, 2005
Starwars?

Did they salvage the set from the original starwars film?

Bibi Katusic — September 12, 2005
Exhilarating interiors

I like the juxta-position of this contemporary interiors.It is innovative and has texture combined with an elegance that is achieved by the different components.Beautifully done!

Tori — September 17, 2005
wow

that is so aesome i have never seen anything like it before one day i hope to visit the shodome shiosite and thaat would be a dream truly come true cant wait till i get my visa ~Tori~

vikas singh — September 21, 2005
shiodome is just too good

i stayed in villa fontaine in shiodome for a week last year, and i confess that i fell in love with that place. it is spanking new, ultra modern buildings, cafes and restaurants of all varieties. it has this elevated walkway which takes you across most of the buildings. definitely worth a visit!