Press Release
Atsushi Murakami Receives the Bronze A' Design Award for Chuji Retail in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
Atsushi Murakami recognized for interior space and exhibition design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 20, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category for Chuji Retail by Atsushi Murakami, designed for design Chill-out inc.. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Bronze A' Design Award
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Regarding Chuji Retail
Although this store is located in the international city of Tokyo, it was planned in a quiet location a little ways back. There are many flashy stores with a Chinese atmosphere in the surrounding area, but this store has a modern Japanese atmosphere Zen. By using materials that are readily available, costs were kept down, while the cutting method and details were ingeniously designed to make it original and special. Also, with sustainability in mind, used tea leaves were dried and mixed into the plastering material for reuse. It is an expression that is rich in both appearance and aroma.
About Atsushi Murakami
design Chill-out is a Japan-based design practice working across architecture, interior, and exhibition design. The practice focuses on spatial concepts derived from structure and material processes, exploring how invisible relationships can be translated into physical form. Through projects ranging from commercial spaces to installations, it develops environments that respond to varying densities of use and perception. Its work engages with material, light, and context, contributing to contemporary approaches to spatial design. The practice has participated in exhibitions and collaborative projects in Japan and abroad.
Award Record
With this recognition, Atsushi Murakami is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award
The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Typical entries include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. The awarded interior designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/interior
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/161967
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/161967
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!161967
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/355464
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Chuji Retail
- Function
- Retail
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Saddle Brown, Black, Sienna and Tan
- Images
- 5
- Client
- design Chill-out inc.
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Atsushi Murakami
- Country
- Japan
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #161967
Credits
- Image Credits
- 5: Photographer ©Nacása & Partners Inc.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Cost control is important, especially when designing a small-scale store. By using readily available materials rather than special materials, we were able to keep costs down, while also creating an original and special space by devising cutting methods and details. In addition, used tea leaves were dried, crushed, and mixed into the plastering materials. Even after being mixed in, the fragrance and slight color were extracted, and the texture was also evident, resulting in a unique finish.
- Inspiration
- The store is located in the multinational city of Tokyo. Although there are many fancy Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood, we have created a gentle space that appeals to the senses of sight, touch, and smell, aiming for a modern Tokyo-style Chinese store.
- Challenge
- There are no straight sections in the seating area of this store.It is difficult to arrange tables efficiently.So we arranged a large table that follows the curve. However, a large table is inevitably heavy.To make it look lighter, we gave it a single leg and hung the end from the ceiling. This created a mysterious space where something heavy appears to be floating in the air.
- Realization and Technology
- Another existing store discards about 600 kg of used tea leaves per year.It cannot be served to customers again, but it still has enough aroma and consciousness left in it.Of course, we will not be able to reuse or upcycle all of these materials in this project.Not only will this project appeal to the senses of touch and smell, but it will also raise awareness of sustainability at the same time.
- Operation and Interaction
- Customers can choose and purchase products from the display cases and shelves, and those who make a reservation can enjoy a course set that includes carefully selected Chinese tea and sweets.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in April 2023 and finished in Aril 2024 in Tokyo
- Specifications
- Area 66 Square meter , Ceiling height 2450mm , Seating capacity 10 people
- Keywords
- chinese, tea, sweets, teahouse, factory
