Apartment developer, Inovv Inc, announced plans for a new residential building in Shinsencho, Shibuya-ku, that will be designed for wine aficionados.

Construction of the tentatively titled “Shibuya Shinsen Wine Apartment Project” will start in May 2012. The 10-storey building will have 18 studio apartments ranging from 42 to 45 sqm (452 ~ 484 sqft). Apartments will be available for rent only, and will not be available for individual sale.

The building is being designed by architect Keiji Ashizawa (www.keijidesign.com), winner of a Good Design Award (Japan) and a National Architecture Award (Australia).

What is a ‘wine apartment’?

The concept that the apartment building will have an exclusive wine sommelier on-site. The sommelier will be on-site from 11am to 8pm each Sunday, as well as the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturday of each month. He can answer any wine-related questions by email or text, and will take care of a wine cellar or ‘cave’ which can hold up to 10,000 bottles. Tenants can rent space in the cellar to store their wine with prices set at about 22,000 Yen/month. Residents can call upon the sommelier to serve wine in their apartments and can arrange fully catered private parties at a fee of 10,000 Yen per hour. When throwing a party, wine glasses, decanters and any other wine-related items can be rented. Apartments feature solid oak floors, mini wine fridges, tasting counters and a wine glass showcase.

The service is being co-planned by Bordeaux Winebank Japan, and is also under the supervision of Ishida Hiroshi, the 3rd best sommelier in the world.

There will also be a bistro on the ground floor.

Rent:

Apartments are priced at the top end of the market and range from 259,000 to 278,000 Yen per month. They require a one month deposit and two month’s key money. Applications can be submitted from December 3, 2012, and the apartments will be ready to move into by September 2013.

 

*Update: Images of the completed building:

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