Danish Carl Hansen & Son's flagship store in central Tokyo has been officially opened, simultaneously marking the 100th anniversary of acclaimed Danish designer Hans J. Wegner's birth. The two-story design shop offers fine classic furniture craftsmanship from Hans J. Wegner, alongside works by other Danish design masters such as Kaare Klint and Ole Wanscher and by Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
The new Tokyo flagship store is located in the alluring Jingumae quarter in the Aoyama area – already home to some of Japan's most prominent design, fashion, and home interior lifestyle stores and galleries, and an ideal setting for the Carl Hansen & Son design universe.
CEO Knud Erik Hansen explains: "We are experiencing strong growth in Japan – currently our largest export market. This growth has been largely driven by Hans J. Wegner's world-famous Wishbone Chair, which the Japanese find quite fascinating. Japanese consumers recognise good design and quality craftsmanship – they do, after all, also have a strong, enduring tradition of beautiful craftsmanship using natural materials with a distinctively minimalist expression. Japan and Denmark share these values, and the Japanese also appreciate Wegner's minimalist approach and use of wood in his timeless and elegant designs. So it makes sense for us to open a flagship store in Tokyo that can serve as a platform for greater visibility in the urban landscape and increase Japanese awareness of the Carl Hansen & Son brand."
The concept behind Carl Hansen & Son's large flagship store is to gather Danish design classics under one roof. With its 6m tall glass facade, the two-story design shop provides the perfect setting for the story of classic Danish furniture craftsmanship and the history created by some of Denmark's greatest architects and designers. A key requirement was finding a space with natural lighting inspired by Danish architecture, allowing the furniture to be presented most authentically in an inviting and intimate atmosphere.
The top level is devoted to a display of Carl Hansen & Son furniture designs by Hans J. Wegner, Ole Wanscher, Tadao Ando and others. The ground level is set up as a Rud. Rasmussen universe, with designs by Kaare Klint, Mogens Koch, Mogens Lassen and others. This will be the first time the illustrious 145-year-old Rud. Rasmussen collection will be on view in Japan – and Asia in general. Rud. Rasmussen represents the same uncompromising quality craftsmanship that characterizes Carl Hansen & Son, with the two brands complementing one another as they tell the story of Danish design. The acclaimed Rud. Rasmussen furniture maker became part of Carl Hansen & Son in December 2011.
