Tokyo's stunning palace for the printed word

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 04:55 — Anonymous by C. James DaleThe duo that designed
Tokyo's latest architectural wonder is turning an age-old phrase by that
quintessential Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, on its head. "Art is
never finished," said the Italian painter, sculptor, architect and
you-name-it-he-did-it. "Only abandoned." Sure, if you visit Daikanyama
T-Site [Japanese], an upscale retail complex that opened last December 5 in
the city's trendy Daikanyama neighborhood, you might notice that Mark
Dytham and Astrid Klein's creation is not quite done. On a sunny January
morning inside Anjin [Japanese], a chic and comfy café-lounge that sits
atop one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, the founders of Klein
Dytham architecture (KDa) are told -- with polite words and bows -- they'll
have to sip their cappuccinos at a different table. The lighting guy's
arrived. Apparently one of the fixtures is hanging too low. But while Dytham
and Klein might be playing musical chairs (or in this case, musical designer
couches), they aren't planning on abandoning their chef d'oeuvre. They like
it too much. Plus, it's just down the street from their office.read more