PAO

Design Team：2id Architects
Size：309.75㎡   
Location：Hamamatsu City, Japan

​

Feature：

Project - PAO is a culture department store in Hamate-cho, Hamamatsu City that seamlessly blends food halls with select shops. Designed by architect Osamu Okada of 2id Architects, the space aims to be a nexus connecting people, localities and cultures through a central hall layout inviting "new encounters."

The counters of each vendor are clad in ceramic tiles that echo the retro aesthetic of the surrounding neighborhood, unifying the interior while allowing individual expression through varied colors and shapes. A standout pizza oven raised on a "Pizza Stage" becomes the iconic centerpiece, its 15,000 mirrored tiles hand-laid to create a spectacular "mirror ball oven" that transforms into a dazzling light display during events. Okada envisioned a space fostering "curiosity to rediscover the town and its people" and nurturing "ideas for cultivating culture" in daily life. The hall's versatility allows it to morph into a plaza for diverse happenings. With nostalgic yet contemporary flair, PAO aspires to holistically embrace the human, regional and cultural fabric as a vibrant community anchor point. The imaginative design encapsulates the quintessence of "encounter" - a delightful melange of food, retail, celebration and social connection resonating the storied spirit of place.

 

Design Team - Founded in 2016 and based in Tokyo and Hamamatsu, 2id Architects is a design firm that transcends boundaries between architecture, interiors and product design. Led by architect and designer Tsukasa Okada, the firm's approach is guided by the concept of "Duality in Design" - embracing seeming contradictions to create designs with authenticity. 2id Architects excels at harmonizing dualities like architecture and interiors, design and functionality. Their work deftly interweaves contrasting elements into cohesive wholes that feel grounded yet imaginative. From residential and commercial buildings to interior spaces and even product lines, the firm's portfolio showcases an impressive versatility. Okada's multi-disciplinary expertise, honed at prestigious firms like Wonderwall and Klein Dytham architecture as well as studies at Domus Academy, shapes 2id's boundary-pushing mentality. The firm's innovative designs have earned prestigious accolades including the 2020 DFA Design for Asia Awards and the 2018 Dezeen Award for Workspace Interior of the Year. With a passion for crafting spaces that elevate daily Experience through conceptual clarity, 2id Architects continues pushing creative frontiers. Their "Duality in Design" ethos produces architectural and interior designs that are as functional as they are design-forward and contextually resonant.