New People: new investment in SF Japantown

August 27, 9:46 AMSF Architecture & Design ExaminerGeorge Calys

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New People: photo George Calys

It’s the last thing anyone would expect to see--a new, from the ground up, retail building in the current retail-averse economy.  But that’s exactly what developer Seiji Horibuchi has done in San Francisco’s Japantown.

Horibuchi founded VIZ Pictures and Media in San Francisco in order to bring the cultural phenomena of manga and anime to the USA.  Now he’s turned to the retail side of Japanese pop culture (or as those in the know call it, J Pop) with his New People venture.  Whether New People is a success or not, the investment in a new Japantown building is laudable and frankly, gutsy.

Designed by the Japanese architecture firm, Torafu, the four story, 20,000 square foot building looks like it was lifted straight out of Tokyo.  The ground-to-roof glass façade is surrounded by a grey fiberglass fascia that frames the merchandise floors within.  The international orange entrance screams “get in here!”

Inside, the building is a backdrop for retail activity.  The spacious lobby is nice enough, although it isn’t a “wow” space.  Head down a half flight to the basement level, however, and there’s a state-of-the-art movie theatre that constantly screens current Japanese cinema.  Clearly the building budget was spent here.

New People is a pleasant, although not architecturally great, addition to the streetscape of Post Street, the heart of Japantown.  Together with its neighbor, the renovated Hotel Tomo, it begins to lift the spirit of what was once a vibrant ethnic enclave.

Still coming up on the architectural calendar—the San Francisco Living: Home Tour September 12 and 13. 

Like last year, the American Institute of Architects San Francisco (organizer of the tour) has offered free tickets to readers of this column!  You can win two tickets for one of the days or a single ticket for both days, simply by replying to gcalys@yahoo.com.  The lucky winner will be selected on Wednesday, September 9.  Your email will not be used for any other purpose and will not be put on any list whatsoever.  Reply with “SF Home Tour” in the subject line and you’re entered!