Tom Wood's Tokyo Flagship Blends Nordic and Japanese Aesthetics

Designed in collaboration with Specific Generic, the space sees warm, natural materials paired with stark, minimal details.

Tom Wood has opened the doors to a new Tokyo flagship store, which features a floor that pays homage to its Nordic roots, details inspired by an appreciation for Japanese culture, and an art-filled “Apartment” space.

Located in Aoyama, the two-floor store has been designed in collaboration with Swedish design agency Specific Generic. For both Specific Generic and the Tom Wood team, it was an important moment to create a space that brought the brand to life, while also offering a less traditional retail experience.

The overarching concept saw a design that payed homeage on the brand’s Nordic heritage and contemporary, clean aesthetic. To achieve this, materials such as glass and metal were prioritised. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls divide the space, while aluminium and steel were used for fixtures and fittings. In a nod to the brand’s commitmment to sustainability, certain elements were crafted from a material from Danish brand Kvadrat. Known as “Really”, the solid surface material is made from upcycled end-of-life textiles, and is fully circular.

“We strive to make conscious choices in terms of materials, function and quality, but most of all to build retail stores that will be considered a time stamp that will be just as relevant in 10 or 15 years from now”, says Morten Isachsen, CEO of Tom Wood.

Upstairs, visitors are lead to a private gallery and “The Apartment”. Here, the aesthetic is based on a combination of Nordic and Japanese aesthetics, with art and design filling the space curated by Tom Wood’s creative director and founder, Mona Jensen. “The idea was to bring parts of Norway to Japan, and to share my passion for great craftsmanship and design by curating the space as if it was my own home”, she says.

This space, however, will remain largely closed to the public on a day to day basis, and will be used for events, talks and dinners hosted by the store’s employees.

Take a tour of the space via the gallery above, and for more design, check out our edit of the best furniture, lighting, and homeware designs of 2023.