It is generally safe to assume that a Starbucks outlet is hardly the most inspiring space, but Japanese architectural firm Kengo Kuma & Associates challenged that pre-conception by designing a radically different look for the famous coffee chain.
Located near Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine in the Fukuoka Prefecture of Japan, it was specifically made to fit in with the other traditional buildings around it.
Using about 2,000 think wooden sticks, the architects created a stunning wood-woven fixture that filled out the walls and ceiling of the interiors.
This beautiful repetitive pattern of the wood creates a cool, peaceful and homely aesthetic that gives customers—who are probably familiar with Starbucks’ generic interior design—a vastly different experience.
If you ever find yourself in Fukuoka, make sure to stop by this extraordinary coffee shop.