- Interior
Tucked away on a quiet side street in Tokyo's bustling Omotesando lies Remedy Cave, a skincare and massage space that translates the philosophy of 'healing from within' directly into architecture. Designer Kenta Nagai of Negu Inc. was given just two months to bring the project to life, and ultimately delivered a result in three months that feels anything but rushed. Using only three materials — Pakistani pink salt, MDF, and hand-applied sand plaster — he created a tactile refuge that envelops visitors in a sense of calm and security.
When the client approached Tokyo-based design studio Negu Inc. with a request to design a skincare and massage space within two months, lead designer Kenta Nagai knew the deadline would be a challenge. With quiet determination, Nagai and his team ultimately managed to bring Remedy Cave to life in a little more time — three months — with a result that betrays little of the tighter schedule.
Tucked away on a quiet side street off Omotesando's bustling main strip, the space was thoughtfully designed to physically embody the brand's core philosophy: healing from within. The result is a sanctuary that envelops visitors in a sense of security and calm, much like an actual cave. 
To achieve this soothing atmosphere, Nagai deliberately avoided visual noise by limiting himself to just three primary materials: Pakistani pink salt, MDF, and sand plaster applied by hand for a unique, tactile warmth. Sweeping curves in the architecture and furniture echo the soft lines of the human body, reinforcing the enveloping feel. Structural interventions were kept to a minimum; only a single wall separates the salt treatment room from the rest area.
The use of MDF is perhaps the project's most humble, yet crucial, detail. Where this material is typically hidden as a base layer, Nagai leaves it entirely exposed here. His team carefully polished the edges and applied a clear finish, resulting in a smooth, nuanced texture that Nagai says calls to mind traditional Chinese ceramics. This raw, authentic approach deliberately reflects the purpose of the space: just as skincare doesn't cover the skin but improves it, the team improved the MDF rather than concealing it.
We regard material objects as elements we arrange carefully and simply, in order to explore the right way of being within a space
The centrepiece of the store is a specialised treatment room built entirely from thick pink salt bricks imported directly from Pakistan. Because these bricks are barely used in Japanese construction, Nagai had to actively search for a craftsman who knew how to work with them. He eventually found a sauna specialist who understood the right adhesive techniques to secure the heavy blocks. 
Throughout the project, Nagai chose a holistic, experience-driven approach over grand architectural statements. The studio also designed the brand's product packaging and incorporated physical ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine into the visual landscape. Finally, simple fabric draped over basic fixtures produces a soft, diffuse glow that completes the serenity of the space.
Photography by Junpei Kato
Text by Manou Raeves