Le Labo Kyoto Machiya: A Fusion of Tradition and Contemporary Retail Design

Nestled in the historic streets of Kiyamachi, Kyoto, the Le Labo Kyoto Machiya flagship store, designed by Jo Nagasaka in collaboration with Schemata Architects, redefines the concept of luxury retail through the lens of traditional Japanese architecture. Housed in a 145-year-old machiya townhouse, the store elegantly blends heritage preservation, wabi-sabi aesthetics, and modern retail functionality across its 137 m² space, completed in 2024 by ZYCC Corporation.

A Journey of Inspiration and Design Philosophy

Le Labo, a New York-based fragrance brand, has long been celebrated for its minimalist, industrial-inspired store design and artisanal approach to fragrance creation. The founder’s encounter with the brand in London in 2016 left a lasting impression: a striking matte black steel storefront evoking a laboratory, where fragrances are manually blended in an in-store perfumery.

When approached to design Le Labo’s Japanese flagship, Nagasaka and Schemata Architects faced a unique challenge: to translate the brand’s industrial, raw aesthetic into a traditional Japanese context. Unlike the concrete urban spaces that house most Le Labo stores, the Kyoto machiya demanded a sensitive approach that respected local history, culture, and craftsmanship.

Harmonizing Japanese and Western Design Elements

The architects carefully navigated multiple design considerations. Questions arose such as:

• How to balance Western retail display techniques with traditional Japanese practices like removing shoes?
• What display heights suit tatami rooms for easy customer interaction?
• How to integrate lighting into a building originally constructed without fixtures?
• Which architectural elements of the machiya should remain untouched, and how much could be adapted for modern retail needs?

Through iterative discussions with Le Labo and Creative Director Deborah Royer, the team developed a store design that respects the machiya’s historical integrity while accommodating the brand’s signature finishes and retail requirements.

Design Details: Materiality, Furniture, and Fixtures

The interior preserves the essence of the machiya, incorporating original structural elements alongside carefully curated additions:

• Countertops, wall shelves, and staircases were designed using traditional machiya vocabulary.
• The paint palette harmonizes with the building’s history, featuring antique colors like bengara (red earth pigment) and shoen (pine soot).
• Display furniture is predominantly antique Japanese pieces, while lighting fixtures are sourced from vintage Western designs, creating a cross-cultural dialogue.

This meticulous combination of old and new highlights Le Labo’s philosophy: valuing time, age, craftsmanship, and the tactile qualities of materials.

A Modern Retail Experience Rooted in Kyoto Heritage

The final store offers visitors an immersive experience where fragrance, design, and cultural history intersect. By blending contemporary retail elements with centuries-old architecture, Le Labo Kyoto Machiya demonstrates that modern luxury need not erase tradition; it can celebrate and amplify it.

Visitors encounter a space that feels both authentic and curated, reflecting Kyoto’s deep cultural roots and Le Labo’s dedication to handcrafted quality. Each detail, from the antique furniture to the bespoke shelving, reinforces the timeless elegance of wabi-sabi design, making this store a landmark in retail interior architecture.