The fashion world would probably be less bright and colourful without the touch and artistry of the late Kenzo Takada. He passed away of Covid-19 complications on 4 October 2020, in the American Hospital of Paris, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
Born in 1939 in Himeji, Takada left Japan for Paris in the 1960s.
What was Kenzo Takada famous for?
Through grit, hard work and barely any money in his pockets, Takada eventually managed to open his first store Jungle Jap in 1970. His creativity and vision, manifested through loud prints, bold colours, unusual silhouettes and the addition of Japanese elements, stood in contrast with the prim and proper aesthetics created by the like of Dior and Chanel that was popular at the time.
Fast forward a few years later and together with fellow Japanese designers Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo, Takada was set to change the fashion scene forever with the birth of his eponymous brand Kenzo.
Since selling Kenzo to LVMH in 1993, Takada took a back seat in fashion. His talents and creative energies wouldn’t go to waste as he took on a new challenge – home interior.
Less than a year before his passing in October 2020 due to Covid-19, Takada launched his furniture label K-3. The collection, which you can read more about here, continued his love for blending east and west and a heady use of colour and prints.
All these beg the following question: how would Takada’s personal home look like?
Interestingly, the Kenzo House takes on a neutral and Zen-like aesthetic with natural accents of wood and stone.
Kenzo Takada’s Paris Home
The house was built by Takada in 1993 and was later redesigned by architect Kengo Kuma in 2018. Situated in an 18th-century residential building in the Bastille district of Paris, the house spans 13,778 square-foot and consists of four storeys.
Cedar shingles, teak and clay became part of the exterior facade as they added texture and warmth to further amplify the vibe of serenity.
Japanese Garden
At the core of the Takada’s space of refuge is an interior courtyard reminiscent of a Japanese garden with a stone pond filled with nishiki carp and koi fishes. Kuma had reconfigured the layout such that each room would look into the natural space, now composed of various flora of cherry and maple trees, bamboo, junipers, lichens and mosses that work in tandem with rocks and waterfalls to recreate the Japanese landscape.
Tea Ceremony Room
To further appreciate the view, head into the adjacent Japanese pavilion with a traditional tea ceremony room. The room is furnished with tatami mats and shoji sliding doors that open to the koi pond.
Wood Finishings
And as you head in, the use of wood continues as French oak louvres, beams and floors mirror the original wood finishes.
An engawa, a traditional Japanese exterior corridor, is made with a wooden lattice to replace the indoor lap pool.
Four Bedrooms and Six Bathrooms
Finally, the house consists of four bedrooms and six bathrooms. Each bedroom has its own en suite bathroom and dressing room for greater privacy.
Other facilities in the house include a music room, study, fitness room, elevator and three self-contained studio apartments for the staff. There are also two private parking spaces.