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Oita Soho Restaurant Japonès Modern by Mika Kanayama

Oita Soho Restaurant Japonès Modern by Mika Kanayama is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award d'Argent in Disseny d'Espais Interiors i Exposicions Competition Category.


ArgentInterior· 2024

Oita Soho Restaurant Japonès Modern

by Mika Kanayama

Client: Muzo

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Interior Category

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The Design

About Oita Soho Restaurant Japonès Modern

Oita Soho es va dissenyar per crear un espai sofisticat i relaxant amb influències japoneses que conservés part de la identitat establerta al primer restaurant d'Oita, informal i verdejant amb plantes per tot arreu. L'espai requeria més que els enfocaments convencionals del disseny japonès modern minimalista per oferir una experiència distintiva i notable que fos una síntesi d'elements estètics i culturals. El treball es va inspirar en l'assaig de Tanizaki «L'elogi de l'ombra», que tracta sobre l'ús, el significat i l'estètica de la foscor i les ombres en l'art, el disseny i l'arquitectura japonesos.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

Oita Soho Restaurant Japonès Modern és un guanyador del guardó A' Design Award d'Argent, un reconeixement extraordinàriament prestigiós concedit a dissenys d'alta gamma, esplèndids i impressionants. Els guanyadors d'Argent són obres tremendament brillants i summament creatives que il·lustren la perícia, el talent i la perspicàcia excepcionals dels seus dissenyadors. Es preveu que Oita Soho Restaurant Japonès Modern sigui una obra meravellosa i de gran lluïment, remarcablement professional i profundament innovadora. Aquest disseny guanyador del guardó A' Design Award d'Argent és un invent molt notable i admirat que beneficia i fa avançar els límits de l'art, la ciència, el disseny i la tecnologia. Oita Soho Restaurant Japonès Modern és una creació molt envejada que evoca desitjos, introdueix sentiments positius i desperta sorpresa i admiració.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
It was designed to create a sophisticated, relaxing space with Japanese influences, and carrying some of the identity established in Oita's first restaurant, informal and verdant with plants throughout the space. The space required more than the conventional approaches of minimalistic modern Japanese design to deliver a distinct, remarkable experience that is a synthesis of aesthetic and cultural elements.

The space required more than the conventional approaches of minimalistic modern Japanese design, to deliver a distinct, remarkable experience that is a synthesis of aesthetic and cultural elements.Backlit paper parasols are placed overlapping in a flowing pattern that follows the stairs creating a feature wall to surprise and delight leading visitors to the upper level. The warm light of the parasols is accentuated in the dark. Lighting is careful and muted throughout relying on position and shades. Two mirrors placed parallel in opposite directions reflect the lights infinitely in their depths, adding to the glow and mystery of the space.
Dimensions & Packaging
The area of project is
Ground Floor - 67sqm
First Floor - 69sqm
Tags
Japanese restaurant design, muzo, Oita, interior design, restaurant design, Japanese design, chinatown
Production Technology
Grade II Listed Building
Material: Fire retardant timber & veneered oak MDF throughout.
Design Challenge
As it was a Grade II listed building, the history of the premises was researched in depth prior to work. Great consideration was given at design stage and fit-out work was carried out carefully. Any finishes that needed repairing was matched to the original finish.
Research
The space is abundant with plants and botanical imagery bringing a sense of exotic night garden or conservatory. Artworks by Imao Keinen featuring birds in seasonal settings with plants and flowers feature throughout, furthering the theme, Keinen’s masterful use of colours is utilised to play with the décor palette introducing flashes of bright colour that are echoed elsewhere, harmonising with the greenery and midnight shades to effect a unique, spectral contrast. The effect has almost the feeling of Japanese lacquerware artwork made real where living forms are presented luminously against the deep dark of lacquer surfaces.
Inspiration
The work was inspired by the Tanizaki essay 'In Praise of Shadows' which discusses the use, meaning and aesthetics of darkness and shadows in Japanese art, design and architecture.
Project Duration
The project was completed in January 2023 in London.
Operation Flow
Backlit paper parasols are placed overlapping in a flowing pattern that follows the stairs creating a feature wall to surprise and delight leading visitors to the upper level. The warm light of the parasols is accentuated in the dark.
Lighting is careful and muted throughout relying on position and shades.
Two mirrors placed parallel in opposite directions reflect the lights infinitely in their depths, adding to the glow and mystery of the space.
Patents
Copyrights belong to Muzo, 2023
Image Credits
Image #1: Photographer Sara Hibbert
Image #2: Photographer Sara Hibbert
Image #3: Photographer Sara Hibbert
Image #4: Photographer Sara Hibbert
Image #5: Photographer Sara Hibbert

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