Ishidaya Primärfunktion: Japanisches Restaurant by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Ishidaya Primärfunktion: Japanisches Restaurant by Atsushi Kawaguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award in Bronze in Innenraumdesign Competition Category.

BronzeInnenraum· 2026

Ishidaya Primärfunktion: Japanisches Restaurant

by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Client: Ishidaya

A' Design Award in Bronze Winner in Innenraum Category

6,467

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180958

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Ishidaya Primärfunktion: Japanisches Restaurant

Buchtext: Ishidaya ist ein japanisches Restaurant im Zentrum von Hanoi. Das Projekt greift auf Taishō-Roman zurück – eine Epoche, in der sich japanische und westliche Kulturen kreuzten – und nutzt diese als Rahmen, um zwischen japanischer Ästhetik und dem westlichen Charakter des Gebäudes zu vermitteln. Eine hölzerne Rahmenkonstruktion über dem Tresen verbindet traditionelle Bauweise mit der Geometrie des Art déco und fungiert als zentrales visuelles Element. Statt bloßer Dekoration formt sie die Wahrnehmung durch Licht und wechselnde Blickwinkel. Das Ergebnis ist ein zurückhaltender Raum, der kulturelle Bezüge schichtet und eine klare Interpretation zeitgenössischer Esskultur in Hanoi bietet.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Bronze

Ishidaya Primärfunktion: Japanisches Restaurant ist Gewinner des A' Design Award in Bronze, einer hochprestigeträchtigen Anerkennung für herausragende Designs, die sich durch Kreativität, Einfallsreichtum und Scharfsinn auszeichnen. Bronze-Gewinner sind reichlich geschickte und auffallend kreative Artefakte, die die große Erfahrung, Fantasie und Findigkeit ihrer Designer belegen. Von Ishidaya Primärfunktion: Japanisches Restaurant wird erwartet, dass es ein hochgeschätztes, bewundertes und geliebtes Objekt ist, das bemerkenswert professionell und innovativ ist. Dieses mit dem A' Design Award in Bronze prämierte Design verkörpert bewährte Verfahren in Kunst, Wissenschaft, Design und Technologie und ist hervorragend in seiner Liebe zum Detail. Ishidaya Primärfunktion: Japanisches Restaurant befriedigt Bedürfnisse auf großartige Weise, berührt Wünsche, bezaubert Gefühle und spricht die Neugier an.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This design is a spatial centerpiece that quietly responds to people rather than technology. Its form never moves, yet it feels different from every position, shaped by light, shadow, and human presence. Unlike decorative elements that are simply observed, this design creates a subtle dialogue with its surroundings, offering depth, calm, and a lasting sense of place through simplicity and restraint.
Dimensions & Packaging: Renovation of existing buildings
Tags: Timeless atmosphere, Changing perception, Sense of depth, Quiet interaction
Production Technology: The design process began not with form, but with experience. We first observed how people move, pause, and look within the space. Instead of adding complexity, simple elements were repeated and layered so perception changes as people move. The design does not rely on mechanisms or instructions; human presence itself creates variation. This approach results in a calm, durable, and lasting spatial experience.
Design Challenge: In designing ISHIDAYA we faced challenges from both cultural context and practical limits. The building showed Western decorative traces while the space required a Japanese aesthetic. To connect these influences we adopted the idea of Taisho Roman, a period when East and West blended naturally. This concept guided choices in materials colors light and space. Through close work with craftsmen and repeated testing the design was refined into a space that respects cultural roots and feels natural to use.
Research: For ISHIDAYA the research began by understanding the building and its use. The structure showed traces of Western decoration, while the design required a Japanese sensibility. To connect these elements we studied moments in history when East and West blended naturally. This led to Taisho Roman, which guided choices in materials colors and mood, creating a space that feels unified clear and suited to present day Hanoi.
Inspiration: ISHIDAYA is a Japanese restaurant located in the center of Hanoi. Inspired by Taisho Roman, a period when Japanese and Western cultures intersected, the design harmonizes Japanese aesthetics with the building’s original Western character. A sculptural wooden framework above the counter combines traditional Japanese construction with Art Deco geometry, creating a refined space where dining, drinking, and cultural storytelling come together in contemporary Hanoi.
Project Duration: The project started in August 2024 in Hanoi and finished in April 2025.
Operation Flow: Hanged wood frame is not something you press or control.
It responds simply to people being there. As you walk, sit, or look up, its shape feels different. From one angle it looks calm, from another it feels complex, and from below it seems to float.
Nothing actually moves, but your position changes how it appears. Light and shadow shift naturally, creating a quiet interaction. Because it relies on people, not machines, it stays simple, stable, and always engaging.
Image Credits: All photos / HIROYUKI OKI