Urban Banyan Diseño interior de una cafetería-panadería by Shinjiro Heshiki

Urban Banyan Diseño interior de una cafetería-panadería by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Bronce in Diseño de Espacios Interiores y Exposiciones Competition Category.

BronceInterior· 2026

Urban Banyan Diseño interior de una cafetería-panadería

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Runva Company Inc.

A' Design Award de Bronce Winner in Interior Category

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The Design

About Urban Banyan Diseño interior de una cafetería-panadería

Urban Banyan es el diseño interior de una cafetería-panadería en la ciudad de Naha, Okinawa. El espacio se organiza en torno a un baniano escultórico de 6000 mm de ancho y 3600 mm de alto. La escultura combina listones de madera, mortero y yeso artístico, mientras que las ramas, realizadas en resina impresa en 3D de bajo peso, cumplen con la normativa de seguridad contra incendios. No se permitía la señalización exterior, por lo que la fachada acristalada de 14,5 metros incorpora paneles de acrílico de 3 mm impresos con hojas semitransparentes. La retroiluminación convierte el escaparate en un cálido farol durante la noche.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronce

Urban Banyan Diseño interior de una cafetería-panadería ha ganado el A' Design Award de Bronce, un reconocimiento sumamente prestigioso concedido a diseños sobresalientes que se distinguen por su creatividad, ingenio y astucia. Los ganadores de Bronce son artefactos ampliamente hábiles y sorprendentemente creativos que acreditan la vasta experiencia, imaginación e ingeniosidad de sus diseñadores. Se espera que Urban Banyan Diseño interior de una cafetería-panadería sea un objeto muy apreciado, admirado y querido, notablemente profesional e innovador. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Bronce incorpora las mejores prácticas del arte, la ciencia, el diseño y la tecnología, y es excelente por su atención al detalle. Urban Banyan Diseño interior de una cafetería-panadería satisface espléndidamente las necesidades, toca los deseos, encanta los sentimientos y atrae la curiosidad.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Centered around a sculptural Banyan tree, this interior blends art and architecture to provide emotional comfort. Embracing the aesthetic of light and shadow, it creates a serene atmosphere. Overcoming strict exterior signage bans, the glass storefront functions as a City Lantern. Semi-transparent leaf prints on acrylic project a warm, organic glow onto the street at night, serving as an architectural beacon without violating building codes.
Dimensions & Packaging: Banyan Tree Artwork: 6000 mm (W) x 3600 mm (H). Acrylic Print Panels: 14500 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H).
Tags: bakery cafe, spatial design, banyan tree, organic interior, lantern facade, light and shadow, digital fabrication, mortar craft, japanese design, okinawa
Production Technology: To meet fire codes, the banyan sculpture uses a hybrid of lath boards, mortar, and artistic plaster. Complex branches integrate lightweight 3D-printed resin to reduce load. The 14.5m window features 3mm acrylic panels with semi-transparent leaf prints. Backlit for a lantern effect, it leverages western exposure, creating a dramatic interplay between the interior and twilight.
Design Challenge: Due to tenant restrictions, no exterior signage was permitted. To overcome this limitation, the design reimagined the entire window surface as a glowing lantern visible from the street, creating both a signature presence and cost efficiency without breaching the building facade rules.
Research: Research focused on material innovation to balance art with strict fire safety. We developed a lightweight structure integrating 3D-printed resin components and noncombustible mortar. We also explored reversible attachment mechanisms for the long-span acrylic window panels. This demonstrates a sustainable approach to large-scale indoor art installations, merging traditional crafts with digital fabrication.
Inspiration: In the concrete jungle of Naha City, this design reintroduces the primal comfort of nature. Inspired by the Okinawan Banyan tree (Gajumaru), revered in folklore as the abode of spirits, the space serves as a modern sanctuary. The concept visualizes the invisible 'Life Force' of the island. By integrating the organic forms of the Banyan with the play of light and shadow, the design transforms a commercial space into a spiritual shelter, offering a moment of primitive healing amidst urban hustle.
Project Duration: The project started in Nov 2024 in Naha City, Okinawa and finished in March 2025
Operation Flow: Guests enter beneath the symbolic canopy of the banyan tree and are naturally guided toward seating areas that embrace the soft western light. The filtered illumination through the acrylic leaf screens shifts subtly throughout the day, providing visitors with a tangible sense of passing time. This visual and spatial rhythm intentionally encourages people to slow their pace, breathe deeply, and experience emotional serenity while enjoying their coffee and bread.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Conception Co., Ltd., 2025.
Image Credits: Photographer: Masahiro Ishibashi