Lei — In Praise of Shadows designed by SOL style
Fragrance is typically experienced through scent, but how it is discovered also depends on factors such as pace, attention, and atmosphere. At Lei, the SOL style transforms the act of selecting a fragrance into a more intimate sensory experience. Inspired by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s In Praise of Shadows, the space explores how darkness can enhance awareness of materials, reflections, and scents.
The experience begins outside on the street, where a dark film covers the glass façade, with only Lei’s circular “0” serving as an entry point. Passers-by can catch a glimpse of a narrow band of light and the flicker of candle flames within. This partial view creates an initial impression of the interior while maintaining an air of anticipation. Upon crossing the threshold, perceptions begin to shift. The ambient light diminishes, making the candles and illuminated mirrors the primary sources of light. As visitors' eyes adjust to the room, small variations in surfaces, movements, and reflections become more noticeable.
This carefully crafted atmosphere allows fragrances to unfold gradually. Scent is experienced through focused attention and proximity, supported by an interior that encourages visitors to appreciate subtle differences. The shop serves as a space for discovery, where light, wood, and lacquer contribute to the overall character of the experience.
Japanese cypress and ginkgo wood form the display surfaces. Hinoki is chosen for the central counter, evoking the fine fragrance and cultural significance of a timber long used in sacred architecture. Ginkgo, known for its smooth grain, provides a more delicate setting for the fragrance products.
Both types of wood are hand-finished with traditional urushi lacquer. Candlelight and mirror reflections dance across the deep gloss, gradually revealing the wood grain as visitors shift their positions. The surfaces appear different from various angles, offering the interior a subtle sense of movement. The black bases of the fixtures blend into the shadows, allowing the lacquered tops, fragrance bottles, and reflected flames to appear visually suspended in the room. Raw concrete walls absorb light, introducing a mineral texture alongside the polished wood.
This interplay between gloss and roughness adds material depth to the shop. Hinoki, ginkgo, urushi, and concrete are experienced through their responses to limited light, allowing traditional craftsmanship to take on a contemporary role within the fragrance environment. The circular opening in the façade encapsulates the project's broader concept. Lei reveals its interior gradually, inviting visitors to follow a path from one illuminated fragment to a fuller sensory experience. Curiosity begins outside and continues through the evolving reflections within the room.
The SOL style has created a shop where shadows play an active role in hospitality. It slows down the experience, enhancing attention to scent and touch, and gives the selection of fragrance a personal sense of ceremony. At Lei, luxury is felt through the time and concentration devoted to a single, carefully observed moment.
PEGGY'S EDITOR'S NOTE (2026 Sky Design Awards Editorial Jury)
Lei expertly leverages the power of shadows, transforming them into productive elements that intensify scent, reflection, texture, and the visitor's awareness of movement. The circular view from the street establishes a sense of discipline before entering, setting a calm tone for the experience. SOL style presents a sophisticated vision by reimagining traditional materials in modern ways, turning hinoki, ginkgo, and urushi into focal points. This sense of restraint defines the shop’s unique luxury, where every detail encourages quiet contemplation.
EDITOR'S REVIEW
The project skillfully utilizes darkness as a key element in retail design. By carefully curating ambient light, the space enhances the senses of smell, reflection, and tactile materiality, creating a deeply immersive environment. The surfaces, finished with urushi and made from hinoki and ginkgo wood, display exceptional craftsmanship, seamlessly blending their cultural significance with a contemporary, functional role that elegantly showcases products and candlelight. The circular opening in the façade fosters a coherent public identity, inviting curiosity through a carefully framed view that enhances the interior experience.
DRAWING AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS
The shop features a dark, glazed façade with a circular opening that provides the only direct view from the street. As visitors enter, they transition from bright exterior light into a dimly lit retail room. This sequence prompts visual adaptation, making the threshold an essential part of the experience.
At the center, a hinoki wood counter facilitates consultations and product handling. Smaller displays topped with ginkgo leaves surround this central space, set against a shadowy backdrop. Black-painted fixture bases minimize visual bulk, while raw concrete walls create a continuous, light-absorbing perimeter. Candlelight, mirrored illumination, and discreet, narrow light sources help establish orientation without relying on uniform ceiling lighting.
The ambiance is further enriched by sound and fragrance, extending the spatial experience beyond visual cues and encouraging a leisurely exploration of the compact interior.
Construction: Masazumi Adachi
Urushi table top: Tasuku Murose
Sound design: Justin North
Photo & Movie: Koya Yamashiro
All inventions: Yasuyuki Nagato
About SOL style, please visit: https://www.sol-style.info