NATUR & NICOLAI BERGMANN | OeO

Copenhagen-based design practice OEO Studio has just completed the design of a flagship store in Tokyo for Danish floral designer Nicolai Bergmann’s new fine jewellery brand – Natur & Nicolai Bergmann.

Located in a distinctive building designed by Japanese architects SANAA, in the Minami-Aoyama area of the city, the flagship space is spread over three floors, each floor showcasing a designated jewellery range: casual, jewellery collection, and bridal.

For the design, OEO Studio has taken inspiration from the artistic floral universe of Nicolai Bergmann, one of Japan’s most recognised international artists, and created a spatial experience that reflects an air of lightness and Nordic sophistication. The interiors feature a refined blend of high-quality furniture and lighting as well as bespoke interior design solutions where maximalism meets minimalism in inspiring contrasts, from solid and heavy pieces to more soft and light structures. Most importantly, the interior creates a showcase for artist Nicolai Bergmann and his fine jewellery.

The furniture has been carefully selected for each floor of the building and includes an eclectic mix of seating and tables from Danish design brand Gubi, including the Coco chair designed by OEO Studio, as well as the Stay Lounge chair and Moon tables by Space Copenhagen. The choice of materials and upholstery incorporate a contemporary blend of solid oak and rose, beige and green hues. The lighting is from Italian brand Flos, including the Superloon lamp by Jasper Morrison and the IC Lights by Michael Anastassiades.

OEO Studio has also designed bespoke jewellery cabinets for the space in two different sizes. The cabinets reflect a modern Danish elegance combined with Japanese craftsmanship and are made of ash and glass with a powder-coated steel frame. Inside the cabinets, the jewellery is displayed on custom-made units of porcelain set against a beautiful fabric backdrop from Kyoto-based company Hosoo, which is acknowledged for its exceptional weaving skills within traditional Japanese three-dimensional techniques and for applying richly textured Nishijin weaving to contemporary design. The jewellery cabinets feature two different textiles made of silk and Japanese washi-paper: the Petals textile from Hosoo’s in-house design team, and the Mesh textile designed by OEO Studio for Hosoo in 2012.

Other interior design elements include custom-made counters and pedestals for flowers as well as elegant walls that function as room dividers and allow Nicolai Bergmann the freedom to create mesmerising flower arrangements in play with the hues of the changing seasons.

Commenting on the design, Thomas Lykke, founder and creative director of OEO Studio says: “It was very important for us to create a sophisticated spatial experience that showcases the new jewellery universe by floral artist Nicolai Bergmann and we have worked with high-quality furniture, exclusive materials and bespoke interior solutions that reflect an air of lightness and Nordic sophistication.”