Shibuya Tsutaya Aedificium Mercatorium Compositum by Tonerico:Inc.

Shibuya Tsutaya Aedificium Mercatorium Compositum by Tonerico:Inc. is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Designatio Interior Competition Category.

ArgentumInterior· 2026

Shibuya Tsutaya Aedificium Mercatorium Compositum

by Tonerico:Inc.

Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Interior Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #174328

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The Design

About Shibuya Tsutaya Aedificium Mercatorium Compositum

Shibuya Tsutaya est aedificium mercatorium compositum ad transitum Shibuya in urbe Tokyo situm. Aedificium ad sceletum structurale nudatum est, et spatia nuda materiis cinereis unita sunt ut tabula neutralis formaretur. Utrumque duorum tabulatorum subterraneorum et septem tabulata superiora suam propriam indolem habent, sed omnis area consulto imperfecta relinquitur ut mutationes futurae fieri possint. Elementa non necessaria remota sunt ut lineae visus clarae et circulatio simplex crearentur. Circiter quingenta sedilia et indices digitales visitatoribus serviunt, et magnum quadrum in facie aedificii nuntios et notitias eventuum ostendit.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum

Shibuya Tsutaya Aedificium Mercatorium Compositum victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Shibuya Tsutaya Aedificium Mercatorium Compositum opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. Shibuya Tsutaya Aedificium Mercatorium Compositum creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Shibuya TSUTAYA was stripped down to its structural skeleton, with the raw space unified in gray materials to create contrast with later-added elements and to preserve an “unfinished” canvas throughout the building.
While each floor maintains its unique character, no area is ever fully designed—each is intentionally left open-ended. This deliberate unfinished incompleteness suggests the potential for future transformation.
Dimensions & Packaging: On the first floor, the entrance was widened by adjusting the angle of the sash doors, and a secondary entrance was added on the Center-Gai shopping street side along the diagonal axis.
To accommodate the building's complex layout, comprising two basement levels and seven floors above ground, and its reliance on escalators for vertical circulation, all non-essential elements beyond regulatory requirements were removed to create a clear, connected spatial flow with uninterrupted sightlines.
Tags: Shibuya, TSUTAYA, Renewal, Unfinished Space, Skeletonization, Flexible Space, Commercial Facility, Visual Connectivity, Dynamic Design, Evolving City
Production Technology: To maximize the floor area on every level, the core zones—including back-of-house spaces—were organized so that, even in their bare state, they serve as a neutral spatial backdrop.
Alongside this structural skeletonization, the bare spaces were unified with gray materials to distinguish them from the elements inserted later, intentionally leaving a gray “canvas” throughout the space.
Design Challenge: Since visitors come from diverse countries and regions, the circulation plan needed to be intuitive and encourage proactive movement.
Additionally, to facilitate information access within the facility, strategically placed digital directories provide updates using minimal text and strong visuals—benefiting users while also easing operational demands.
Research: Shibuya is a town where people from many different countries, regions, and generations come and go. Therefore, we conducted thorough research on the surrounding area. We surveyed people in the town to learn what they currently need and what is lacking, and we reflected these findings in the floor layout. For example, many respondents noted a lack of places to rest, so we decided to include approximately 500 seats in the facility.
Inspiration: Shibuya is a hub of creative energy—constantly evolving, and defined by its openness to change and its allure as an unfinished city. This nature inspired the project’s core concept: “leaving space unfinished.”
The concept took years to develop, beginning with a full structural reset to explore the site's potential. Located directly at Shibuya Crossing, the design reimagines how the space can respond to the present moment and act as a new cultural platform.
Project Duration: The project was launched in Tokyo on March 5, 2021, and opened in Shibuya, Tokyo on April 25, 2024.
Operation Flow: Situated at the iconic Shibuya Crossing—where approximately 500,000 people pass daily—the building’s façade features a large LED screen designed for visibility from multiple angles.
This screen continually broadcasts not only in-house event updates but also news and timely advertisements, transforming the architecture into a dynamic hub that connects the city, its people, and businesses.
Team Members: Hiroshi Yoneya
Ken Kimizuka
Kai Kitahara
Momo Suzuki
Image Credits: Main Image: Photographer Nacása & Partners Inc., SHIBUYA TSUTAYA, 2024.
Image #1: Photographer Nacása & Partners Inc., SHIBUYA TSUTAYA, 2024.
Image #2: Photographer Nacása & Partners Inc., SHIBUYA TSUTAYA, 2024.
Image #3: Photographer Nacása & Partners Inc., SHIBUYA TSUTAYA, 2024.
Image #4: Photographer Nacása & Partners Inc., SHIBUYA TSUTAYA, 2024.