The Zazen Bear Flagship store, located in Soho, NYC, is a Korean - Japanese multi-use concept shop. Within a space designed to encourage peace, tranquility and harmony, Zazen brings together a retail program featuring Zen spirited items with wellness and art-exhibition programming. The atmosphere is achieved by the synthesis of organic forms and materials — primarily wood, stone, and plants. A double-height plant wall comprising of purifying plants traverses the space vertically, linking the retail level and the sub-grade gallery and meditation center.

Pierpaolo, a native-born Italian, has amassed a vast amount of experience in architecture, project management, construction administration and client representation over the past ten years in New York. Pierpaolo began his career with Cetra Ruddy where he played a central role in the design of One Madison Park and the award winning Oval Amenities for Stuyvesant Town. He then joined SAS where he gained valuable residential and commercial experience. Pierpaolo was educated at the Faculty of Architecture of Bari, Italy and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) in New York. He lives and works in New York.

Zazen Bear is a Korean-Japanese concept shop offering plush sleep cushions and meditation jewelry, a downstairs art gallery, and yoga classes. Zazen Bear offers guests a 360° experience that creates a path from Zen to shopping by providing a sense of sanctuary and harmony that allows exploring, through scent, texture and visuals. Every item in the store is crafted to evoke a sense of harmony, relaxation and tranquility when touched, worn or used to decorate the home.