Spoon & Tamago - japanese art, design and culture

Photos by Daici Ano and Tomoyuki Kusunose, courtesy Torafu Architects

Tamiya, perhaps the most recognized brand name in the modeling industry, recently opened a new flagship facility in the Shimbashi Toranomon area of Tokyo. Dubbed the Tamiya Plamodel Factory, the shiny new store, which just opened in late May, replaces the previous store just across the street, and had served model makers since 2008.

Designed by Torafu Architects, the new Tamiya Plamodel Factory is located in the Shintora Yasuda Building, a newbuild across the street from the previous store. It faces an ample open space on the sidewalk along the main street and serves as a cultural initiator, communicating the culture of modeling not only to the existing community of fans but to the world.

Around 6,000 Tamiya products will line the 4-meter high, 100-meter long product shelves, which are at once both modern yet reminiscent of a classic model shop. “The meandering product shelf has cut-out windows leading the gaze to the end of the shop,” explain the architects. “The windows frame the scenery, and the visitors are guided to the rear of the shop by seeing it through the windows.”

the topmost large shelves stock and display TAMIYA’s iconic box art, whose beauty is enhanced by the light gray shelves, reminiscent of the surfacers used in the model painting processes

To the right side of the entrance there is a cafe area featuring a 1/1 scale Aero Avante car model. The cafe area connected to the office entrance is a cultural zone perfect for a quick break or as a place to meet up.

Tamiya Plamodel Factory
Shintora Yasuda Building 1st floor, 4-3-1 Shimbashi (map)
Weekdays 11:00am to 8:00pm; Weekend and Holidays 10:00am to 7:00pm