Project

CASETiFY is a global lifestyle brand that offers customizable smartphone cases and tech accessories, allowing users to express their individuality. With a strong presence on social media, CASETiFY has garnered a wide-reaching audience and is loved by international celebrities. In addition to its online sales, the brand has been actively opening physical stores in major Japanese cities, including Tokyo and Osaka.

In 2024, GARDE was responsible for the design, local architecture, and construction of two newly opened CASETiFY STUDiO stores: CASETiFY STUDiO Hiroshima PARCO and CASETiFY STUDiO Sapporo PARCO.

CASETiFY STUDiO Hiroshima PARCO

CASETiFY STUDiO Hiroshima PARCO marked the brand’s first store opening in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. Located in Hiroshima PARCO, which underwent a major renovation in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the store opened on April 26, 2024. One of the store’s highlight products is an exclusive design created in team up with a Japanese professional baseball team—the first of its kind for CASETiFY.

Opening Date: Friday, April 26, 2024
Address: Honkan 1F, 10-1 Hondori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-0035, Japan
Business Hours: 10:00 – 20:30 (subject to change)
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CASETiFY STUDiO Sapporo PARCO

As the first CASETiFY store in the Hokkaido region and the ninth store in Japan, CASETiFY STUDiO Sapporo PARCO officially opened on October 17, 2024.

To commemorate the opening, a special “Sapporo Beer x CASETiFY” collection—created in collaboration with Sapporo Beer, a brand with deep roots in Hokkaido—is available exclusively at the Sapporo PARCO store.
Additionally, the store offers limited-edition smartphone cases featuring Hokkaido-inspired designs, such as skiing and miso ramen, reflecting CASETiFY’s signature style and creativity.

Opening Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Address: 1F, 3-3 Minami 1-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido 060-8502, Japan
Business Hours: 10:00 – 20:30 (subject to change)
Visit Website

Sustainability Initiative: Re/CASETiFY

As part of its eco-conscious efforts, Re/CASETiFY is a recycling program that collects used smartphone cases and repurposes them into new products. Both the Hiroshima PARCO and Sapporo PARCO stores feature collection boxes where customers can drop off their old cases for recycling—regardless of the brand.

About CASETiFY

CASETiFY is a Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) global lifestyle brand known for customizable tech accessories and its commitment to sustainability. The brand has collaborated with a diverse range of industries, including character brands, art, and fashion, creating innovative partnerships that have gained worldwide attention.
By utilizing premium materials and cutting-edge designs, CASETiFY offers limitless personalization options and original, high-quality tech accessories. The company serves as an incubator for artists, a design studio for brands, and an international partner for charitable and social initiatives—empowering both creators and customers to make an impact.
www.CASETiFY.com

©All Photo CASETiFY

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Tumi, the global brand in premium bags and travel essentials, has unveiled the renovated Tumi Ginza and celebrated its reopening on Saturday, November 30, 2024, as the largest sales floor in Asia. GARDE oversaw the facade design, interior design, design supervision, and construction of this milestone project.

The revamped Tumi Ginza reflects the brand’s latest store concept, featuring a natural white marble pattern and a smooth, layered curved design on the exterior that elevates Tumi’s distinct identity. Inside, the modern white and gray interior boasts marbleized flooring, glossy stainless steel, and titanium-coated columns embossed with Tumi’s signature “T” logo for a sophisticated touch.

Fixtures adorned with Tumi’s iconic “T” motif lend a sleek and stylish ambiance, while a standout feature—the titanium metallic painted magnetic wall—offers dynamic seasonal displays, bringing a fresh and engaging element to the store’s design.

Tumi Ginza presents an extensive selection of premium business and travel essentials, including men’s and women’s bags for everyday use, accessories, and exclusive products available only at Tumi’s directly managed stores. Notably, the coveted 19 Degree Titanium collection is exclusively available at Tumi Ginza and Tumi Omotesando in Japan, making it a must-visit destination for discerning shoppers.

TUMI Ginza

Address: 1F KIRARITO GINZA, 1-8-19 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Phone number: 03-6263-2731
Business hours: 11:00 – 20:00
Closed: Same as facility holidays
TUMI Official Site: https://www.tumi.co.jp/

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In October 2024, THE HUNDRED Longevity House opened in Ginza, a bustling hub for business professionals and tourists alike. This luxury complex brings together cutting-edge regenerative medicine, ancient traditional healing practices, and traditional Japanese food culture—three essential pillars for achieving a healthy and fulfilling 100-year life, both physically and mentally.

GARDE’s senior designer, Onodera, played a key role in the project, overseeing the matching and coordination to create this harmonious and innovative space.

Holistic Programs for Mind and Body

Ayurveda, the traditional health practice originating in India, has earned global acclaim for its effectiveness in stress reduction and addressing chronic health concerns. Today, it has become a cornerstone not only in medicine but also in spas, wellness programs, beauty, and anti-aging industries.

At THE HUNDRED Wellness Salon, a qualified Nepalese Ayurvedic physician provides personalized treatment programs designed to suit each individual’s constitution and physical condition. These customized treatments utilize herbal oils and other traditional Ayurvedic techniques, offering a deeply holistic wellness experience.

A Healing Space Where Art and Design Come to Life

The defining feature of this facility is its spatial design, which emphasizes natural light and the warmth of wood-grain materials. Complementing the interior design, artworks crafted from natural materials, such as stones and reclaimed timber from Amami Oshima, are thoughtfully placed throughout each floor. These elements create a visually soothing and relaxing atmosphere, fostering a deep sense of comfort.

Art is also a core element in many of the office and commercial spaces designed by GARDE, where it plays an indispensable role in enhancing spatial design. Moreover, GARDE actively supports young artists, providing them with opportunities to exhibit and showcase their work in the GARDE Gallery, located at the entrance of our offices.

Where Art, Design, and Wellness Meet

THE HUNDRED Longevity House is a sanctuary where you can reset both mind and body amidst the demands of daily life. We invite you to experience this extraordinary space, where art, design, and cutting-edge wellness programs seamlessly blend to promote holistic healing and rejuvenation.

Designer Profile

Yoshikuni Onodera
Senior Designer, Planning & Development Division

Yoshikuni Onodera specializes in shared space environment design, as well as exterior and facade design for shopping centers, residences, and department stores. His career began with projects primarily in Shanghai, eventually expanding his expertise across the broader Chinese market.

In 2016, he played a pivotal role in environmental design for notable projects, including the Food Paradise food court in Shanghai, the restaurant floors in Joy City shopping centers, and the Garden Park at Sunshine Paradise Fuzhou shopping center.

Returning to Tokyo in 2017, Onodera has since broadened his scope to working on design projects across a wider range of fields and continuing to deliver innovative and impactful spaces.

Facility Overview

Name: THE HUNDRED (Longevity House)
Location: Ginza Matsuya-dori Yasuda Building 5~9F, 4-4-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
THE HUNDRED official website: https://thehundred.jp/

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Nanchang is a city undergoing rapid transformation fueled by economic growth. While innovative infrastructure and commercial facilities are being developed, the city remains dedicated to preserving its traditional culture and arts, making it a prime location for evolving into a more prosperous urban hub.

GARDE embraced the challenge of designing a space that symbolizes Nanchang’s promising future by overseeing the interior design and coordination of the entire “Nanchang JOY CITY” building—a new commercial facility slated for completion in May 2025.

The Nanchang JOY CITY project was led by Chief Designer Yu Ohata, who has an extensive portfolio of commercial facilities both within China and internationally. Having previously designed Suzhou JOY BREEZE, this marks his second comprehensive interior design project for a JOY CITY complex.

The Overall Project Concept: Space Design Connecting Nanchang with ‘Clouds’ and ‘Hope’

We had the opportunity to speak with Ohata about his design vision and the challenges he faced in bringing Nanchang JOY CITY to life.

The overarching concept of the project is “Spatial Design Connecting Nanchang with ‘Clouds’ and ‘Hope’.” Chief Designer Yu Ohata explains: “Nanchang JOY CITY is a commercial facility that delves deeply into the unique characteristics of the Nanchang area, aiming to maximize its appeal and share it with a wide audience. Nanchang is an inland city in China, currently in a developmental phase. It boasts a rich history and is renowned as a national scenic spot, notably for the Tengwang Pavilion, one of the three great towers of Jiangnan. The design concept draws inspiration from the phrase ‘Qingyun no Kokorozashi’ (‘志在青雲’) in the preface to ‘Tengwang Pavilion’ by Wang Bo, a prominent poet of the Tang Dynasty. This phrase embodies the spirit of ‘possessing virtue, maintaining high aspirations, and enriching society and the world,’ which forms the core narrative of the project.

The project’s theme is ‘Laputa.’ We developed a grand spatial design symbolized by clouds, aiming to create an ‘ideal place’ where people can gather, relax, and enjoy. For instance, we hope that visitors who initially come to Nanchang JOY CITY as a community space will find it becoming their favorite place over time, and eventually a place they wish to visit with loved ones. Additionally, we meticulously planned the flow lines within the expansive mall, conducting numerous simulations and analyses to ensure a comfortable environment for visitors.

It’s crucial for malls to attract interest in stores on different floors and across corridors.
Therefore, we paid special attention to eliminating blind spots, ensuring that stores are visible from various vantage points. This project aimed to become a new symbol of revitalization in the region, especially during the challenging economic conditions in China following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.　We anticipate that Nanchang JOY CITY will become a beloved landmark, bringing new vitality to the area.”

Design Concept: Crafting an Enchanting Space with the Theme of “Clouds”

Chief Designer Yu Ohata elaborates on the distinctive designs symbolizing the project’s theme, “Laputa”:
“We assigned clear characteristics to each atrium and entrance, ensuring each holds a unique identity. In expansive malls, such design variations assist visitors in orienting themselves. Moreover, the consistent incorporation of cloud motifs throughout the facility, characterized by soft forms and textures, creates a soothing environment where visitors can feel at ease simply by walking through.

JOY CITY is a shopping mall brand with a nationwide presence in China. Initially, the focus was heavily on design, often overlooking costs. In recent years, however, there has been a shift towards design standardization to achieve cost control, aiming to blend unified brand designs with distinctive features unique to each facility. This ‘design standardization’ has been applied in the latest facilities in Sanya, Xiamen, and Nanchang. Balancing ‘uniformity and uniqueness within a single concept’ presented challenges, but we embraced them.

We hope that the thoughtfully considered design of Nanchang JOY CITY resonates as a special experience for visitors, establishing it as a regional landmark. Additionally, we aspire for this facility to become a successful example of a JOY CITY mall, achieving both design integrity and cost efficiency.”

Message from Designer Yu Ohata: Creating Cherished Spaces

“Our design aspirations extend beyond mere architecture. We aim to create spaces that serve as sanctuaries for the local community, where visitors can refresh themselves away from daily routines. In the post-pandemic era, as people increasingly seek comfortable environments, Nanchang JOY CITY was designed to be a memorable presence that aligns with the community. We meticulously attended to every detail to ensure that time spent here brings relaxation and vitality.As designers, we bear the responsibility to continually evolve in response to changing times and regional characteristics. Through projects like JOY CITY, we are committed to creating spaces that enrich people’s lives.”

Lead Designer

Yu Ohata
Chief Designer, Design Division
After extensive involvement in the design and on-site supervision of large-scale commercial facilities in China, Yu Ohata joined the Hong Kong office and the Asia-Pacific Division. His portfolio includes environmental design for major Chinese commercial complexes like Joy City, Malaysia’s PARKSON department stores, and Yuehai Tiandi, the latest commercial facility brand of Tianhe City. He has contributed to projects ranging from conceptual design to design supervision. Since returning to the Tokyo headquarters in 2021, he continues to focus primarily on Chinese projects.

Facility Overview

Name: Nanchang JOY CITY
Location: Chaoyang New Town, Xihu District, Nanchang City; north of Yunjin Road, west of Fusheng Road, south of Jinhwan Road
Scheduled Completion: May 2025
Developer: Joy City Property (大悦城控股)

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Located within a high-rise building in Yurakucho, overlooking Ginza—a special district where tradition and innovation coexist—this office space offers a unique presence. The area is characterized by the elegant Namiki-dori lined with luxury brands, historical department stores, modern commercial facilities, and seasonal landscapes that captivate visitors.

For this project, GARDE was responsible for developing the new design concept, schematic planning, basic design, and design supervision for the PLACE171 office space, which was originally designed by GARDE in 2018.

Reception Area Welcoming Guests with 16 Art Objects

The reception area serves as a crucial space that leaves the first impression on visitors. Here, a total of 16 art objects warmly greet guests. Evoking the atmosphere of a speakeasy, the centerpiece of the space is a chandelier suspended from the ceiling paired with a vintage black telephone, creating a nostalgic ambiance that defines the entire area.

Additionally, the contrast between design elements and lighting creates a dynamic visual experience, naturally guiding visitors further into the space.

Chic and Modern Lounge Spaces

The lounge spaces feature walls that retain the texture of concrete, creating an industrial atmosphere. A sleek bar counter designed with smooth curves and a black base, along with heavy marble-style tables and black chairs, adds a sense of luxury to the space. At the same time, the design accommodates a wide range of scenarios, from casual conversations to formal business interactions.

Additionally, LED line lights installed on the ceiling and walls can be illuminated to create an elegant ambiance with red or blue artificial lighting, offering a distinct atmosphere from the daytime setting. This transformative lighting is expected to inspire new opportunities for communication.

A Fireplace that Brings Warmth and Comfort

The centerpiece of the lounge space is the centrally placed fireplace, which enhances the overall ambiance. Its sleek, black-based design seamlessly complements the chic atmosphere of the space, adding not only aesthetic beauty but also a calming, relaxing effect. This creates a serene environment where visitors can pause and unwind.

The fireplace achieves the visual effect of real flames without using fire, instead utilizing water vapor illuminated by LED lights. This innovative feature allows it to be used year-round, not just during winter, and contributes to maintaining indoor humidity, enhancing comfort throughout all seasons.

A New Office Designed to Foster Community

Representative Mr. Yamamoto and business partner Mr. Yoshikawa of Dual Line shared their vision for the new office as a space where new connections and communities can flourish.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote communication has become the norm. However, we’ve come to truly appreciate the value of meeting people directly, both inside and outside the company, and the meaningful relationships that arise from those interactions. In this new office, we welcome everyone with a striking entrance and offer a lounge space where conversations unfold while enjoying the sights and sounds of the fireplace. GARDE has designed a space that leaves such a strong impression, it makes people want to return. We look forward to meeting everyone here at the office.”

Their vision highlights the importance of creating an inviting and memorable environment to strengthen both professional and personal connections.

Designer’s Comment

“For this new design, we aimed to create a space that balances functionality with sophistication, allure, and creativity. To ensure the office could adapt its ambiance flexibly according to different occasions, we paid particular attention to the lighting plan, materials, and furniture design. By crafting a design that allows the atmosphere to shift for each scene, we created a space that is not only practical but also offers an emotionally engaging experience.

The ceilings and floors were brought to life with the help of a specialized team, using unique coatings to achieve unparalleled artistry in color and texture.I hope this newly designed office becomes a place that connects people and fosters new encounters and possibilities.”
This comment underscores the thoughtful approach to creating a space that is both functional and inspiring, catering to a variety of needs and experiences.

Designer Profile

Shinichiro Misawa
After graduating from an art university, Shinichiro Misawa joined the Japanese branch of the largest luxury conglomerate in France. Over the course of more than 25 years, he gained extensive experience in spatial design and production for four brands within the group. He later served as the trade marketing manager for a French cosmetics brand before being appointed as the creative director for a domestic fashion brand.

Misawa’s expertise lies in designing and producing spaces, advertisements, and branding strategies for a diverse range of products—from low-cost goods priced in the hundreds of yen to high-end jewelry worth tens of millions of yen.

Since joining GARDE, he has been contributing as the Marketing and PR Director, providing branding and creative solutions not only for the company but also for its clients. His comprehensive approach and wealth of experience continue to deliver innovative and impactful results.

Facility Overview

Name: PLACE171
Location: 15th Floor, Yurakucho Denki Building South Wing, 1-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Completion Date: November 2024
Developer: Due Diligence & Deals Co.

GARDE Design Magazine provides project portfolio, trends in architecture, design, and art, and event information.
The project portfolio and the latest information on GARDE are now available on our official website.
>Click here to visit our project portfolio.
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