Not all happening retail venues in Japan are situated in Tokyo, and the newly opened Elephants men’s boutique proves just that. Situated in downtown Kyoto, the country’s cultural capital, the store occupies the ground floor unit of SOZO+, an eight-floor office building from the early 1990s. Local practice Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio was commissioned to create an interior design for the space, and came up with simple interventions that make clever use of the double-storey height and add a certain grandeur at the same time. The use of materials is eclectic as they include traditional materials, such as latticed walls and cedar paneling, and also concrete and poured granite furnishings. A row of sleek pendant lights and functional lighting creates additional visual drama, and up on the mezzanine floor, a seating area is situated. The new Elephants store carries a tightly curated range of streetwear brands, including Heron Preston, Off-White, Palm Angels, Amiri, Marcelo Burlon and Stone Island.