Balenciaga joins the ranks of leading fashion houses at Miyashita Park in Tokyo. The highly anticipated new mall complex and rooftop park has proven to be a major draw, thanks to the presence of luxury brands that cater to a demographic of deep-pocketed young shoppers. Situated on the ground floor alongside bustling Meiji dori, the boutique is designed by the brand’s in-house design team, and sees an interior design extrapolated from the design codes which were first laid down three years ago in collaboration with Berlin-based architecture practice Gonzalez Haase for the Balenciaga flagship store on rue St.-Honoré in Paris. Using a palette of matte finish metal, both smoked glass and clear glass, and leather, the premises ooze ultimate understatement. The front section is marked by two identical metal display tables, flanked on either side by matching shelving, and a light which covers almost the entire width of the ceiling. The back section is demarcated by a suspended faux industrial rail system which serves to hang clothing items and more large ceiling lights. On one side, additional display tables have been placed and paired with low benches. Vertical floor-to-ceiling metal louvres divide the back space in two, and also cover the entire back wall. The monochrome setting is offset by wall-to-wall carpeting in an electric blue shade. The new Balenciaga store carries men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, bags and shoes. Simultaneously, another Balenciaga store opened in the Tokyo metropolitan area, situated at the newly opened NEWoMan mall in Yokohama.