Are bakeries the new coffee shop? Case-in-point, Panscape in Kyoto, where baking is elevated to an art form.
Bread is a relatively new addition to the Japanese diet (new, as in the 19th century), and bakeries typically tend to be designed after the style of breads made (think French and German). That said, we like this refreshingly new and modern look that Osaka architects Ninkipen created for Panscape.
This is the second branch for Panscape that Ninkipen has designed: The first had a retro, industrial feel, while this second outpost has a clean, minimal look with an all-white backdrop created to place emphasis on the warm colors of the bread as it comes out of the oven. The client wished to highlight the homemade qualities of the bread, so the architect strategically placed the brick oven opposite the entrance. In full view, it greets shoppers as they enter, while a glass display case in the window showcases the daily batches of loaves.
Above: A concrete step greets shoppers. Pan is Japanese for bread (taken from the Portuguese who introduced it into Japan).
Above: The white walls and concrete surfaces throw into contrast the gold leaf panel on the wall and the bread on display.
Above: A large piece of bubinga (a type of rosewood) serves as the counter for a glass display case.
Above: The charm of Panscape lies in details such as the sloping wall to the right of the entrance, highlighted by a tiny floral arrangement.
Above: A whimsical touch: a back lit custom-made "mouse hole."
Above: The bakery has two branches in Kyoto.
Check out our favorite coffee shop, Bird Coffee in nearby Osaka from the people behind the much loved Truck store.
My favorite? Tas Yard in Tokyo, located in my old neighborhood with a mix of garden, home goods and coffee.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 20, 2012.