The client requested the store to be visually open to the street while protecting the customer’s privacy. Given the client’s request, the architects proposed a glass facade with complex patterns that is transparent and shiny like a glass jewelry box, but distorts the interior view to conceal the customer’s privacy.
However, an ordinary patterned glass lacks in its transparency while a cut glass had a cost issue. The idea was to develop a unique glass with herringbone motif called Chevron, which is used as the lining for the store’s original bags.
![Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, L’Ecrin, Tokyo. Photo © Koji Fujii/Nacasa and Partners Inc. Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, L’Ecrin, Tokyo. Photo © Koji Fujii/Nacasa and Partners Inc.](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2015/01/10/glass_jewelry_box/domus-04-glass-jewelry-box.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
First, the pattern was made using stainless steel frames with pointy edges. Then a 12mm thick single glazed glass is set on top of the steel frames and put inside a kiln where the glass is heated to 675 degrees Celsius, a point at which the glass softens.
As the glass softens, it naturally sinks 10~13mm by gravity between the frames, leaving the same chevron pattern made by the steel frame beneath it. This soft and inflated glass gives us a sense of delight that fills the interior.
![](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2015/01/10/glass_jewelry_box/gallery/domus-07-glass-jewelry-box.jpg.foto.rmedium.png)
![](/etc/designs/domusweb20/assets/images/icon-camera.png)
![](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2015/01/10/glass_jewelry_box/gallery/domus-07-glass-jewelry-box.jpg.foto.rmedium.png)
![](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2015/01/10/glass_jewelry_box/gallery/domus-08-glass-jewelry-box.jpg.foto.rmedium.png)
![](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2015/01/10/glass_jewelry_box/gallery/domus-01-glass-jewelry-box.jpg.foto.rmedium.png)
![](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2015/01/10/glass_jewelry_box/gallery/domus-02-glass-jewelry-box.jpg.foto.rmedium.png)
![](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2015/01/10/glass_jewelry_box/gallery/domus-03-glass-jewelry-box.jpg.foto.rmedium.png)
![](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2015/01/10/glass_jewelry_box/gallery/domus-05-glass-jewelry-box.jpg.foto.rmedium.png)
![](/content/dam/domusweb/en/news/2015/01/10/glass_jewelry_box/gallery/domus-06-glass-jewelry-box.jpg.foto.rmedium.png)
L’Ecrin, Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo
Program: shop
Architects: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
Completion: 2014