One of the most fertile and compelling practice in the world and described by the critics as Minimalists, Herzog and de Meuron had established their reputation on the simple austere concrete materiality of Tate Modern Bankside. Following the global success of that building, the practice sustained their reputation with the equally acclaimed Laban Centre.
For their then (2003) most recent project, global fashion leader Prada presented them with the challenge of reshaping both the concept and function of shopping, pleasure and communication. Their
Epicentre store Prada in Tokyo is dazzlingly rich in ideas, and had been hailed
as the building that will define the future course of architecture.