ALPHAICON is a Japanese dog wear brand. At Tokyo store, they offer original wear and carefully selected dog products from around the world. Shopping at a store is an unusual activity for dogs that can cause them stress. Therefore, we consider the dog itself as the client, aiming to create a space that both dogs and humans can enjoy while reducing physical and mental stress on the dog.

To alleviate the mental burden of unfamiliar places, we focused on enhancing the compatibility between dogs and the space. The walls and ceiling are coated with a mastic finish, a familiar sight for dogs living in urban areas. This finish is commonly used on the exterior of Japanese homes and buildings. The soft artificial grass flooring reduces strain on the paws and addresses a problem seen at other stores, where dogs would injure their legs by jumping off the fitting table.

The central panel is elevated off the ground, allowing dogs to survey the entire space without added stress, while for humans, it gently divides the store, increasing the flow and making the small space more navigable. The panel, positioned diagonally in the room, along with the fitting table equipped with a ramp, blends with the artificial grass to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a dog park.

Scientific research shows that dogs have fewer cone cells in their retinas than humans, meaning they mainly see in shades of gray but can detect blue and yellow. The store is composed of these three colors, reflecting ALPHAICON's brand philosophy of mutual understanding between dogs and their owners through the products, and offering a unique experience of shared colors between dogs and humans.

In terms of sustainability, we preserved as much of the building's structure as possible, minimizing demolition and the construction of new walls and ceilings. The difficult-to-handle beams with complex shapes were left as they were, enhancing the dynamic feel of the space. The artificial grass is durable and economical, reducing excessive air conditioning usage by staying cool in summer and warm in winter.

The semi-outdoor interior seamlessly connects with the surrounding streets, positioning the store as an extension of a dog's walk. This reduces the stress on dogs when entering and staying in the store. At the same time, with the shapes, arrangement, and colors of the fixtures stimulating curiosity, we believe this is a space where dogs and their owners can enjoy time together.