Thom Browne and Robbie Lawrence unveil metal newsstand informed by Tokyo's cityscape

Photographer Robbie Lawrence has designed a news kiosk with Sean Thomson, which was installed at London's ICA art centre to showcase a zine made with fashion designer Thom Browne.

Created for the Thom Browne x Asics collaboration, The Working Hour zine features Lawrence's photography of models dressed in Thom Browne clothing.

Ranging from young to old, all were shot on Tokyo's busy streets in Thom Browne's suits and in situations commonly associated with Japanese businessmen – running to catch a train or disappearing in a throng of similarly suited office workers.

"With this project, I was particularly interested in creating something holistic – a body of work that began with the initial design idea and extended through to its execution and physical presentation," Lawrence told Dezeen.

"From the outset, I imagined that the work would ultimately be exhibited," he continued.

"As the project developed, I began thinking about places where the suit still functions as an everyday uniform, and Tokyo immediately came to mind."

The Working Hour was designed to resemble classic brand magazines from the 1980s and also references Japanese historical photography.

For its unveiling, Lawrence worked with set designer Thomson to create a fitting display for the zine at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA).

"Together we constructed a newsstand inspired by those commonly found in Japan," Lawrence explained.

"Installing it within the ICA – a very classical building – created a compelling juxtaposition between the architectural setting and the project’s visual language."

The rectangular metal building was decorated with the Thom Browne tricolore at its top and given added Tokyo streetscape details, such as vents and a satellite dish antenna, on its roof.

Lawrence wanted to push the level of detail as far as it could go, also adding a phone booth and a lamppost to the space to complete the feel of being in a city.

"We printed elements of the work and pasted them onto the sides of a phone booth attached to the newsstand, deliberately weathering and roughing them up so they felt lived-in," Lawrence explained.

"We also installed a lamppost and other small details that echoed the visual language of the photographs. In a way, I wanted to transport a fragment of the world I had created photographically into the exhibition space itself."

The Working Hour newsstand marks Lawrence's first physical installation, but he says his work has been focusing on creating more physical media for a while.

"Although this is the first time I’ve really considered installation as part of my practice, it doesn’t feel entirely separate from the rest of the work," he said.

"Everything I’m making at the moment seems to be moving in the direction of emphasising the physical nature of the work as much as possible."

To the photographer, it's a way of reminding people of the tangible aspects of his work.

"At a time when so much imagery is experienced digitally, it feels essential to remind people that the work exists materially – and to present it physically in the strongest and most considered way possible," Lawrence concluded.

After being unveiled in London at an event this weekend, the installation will now be moved to be shown in New York later this month.

The photography is by Jonathan Daniel Pryce.

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