Ishidaya Función Principal: Restaurante Japonés by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Ishidaya Función Principal: Restaurante Japonés by Atsushi Kawaguchi 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

Ishidaya Función Principal: Restaurante Japonés

by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Client: Ishidaya

A' Design Award de Bronce Winner in Interior Category

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The Design

About Ishidaya Función Principal: Restaurante Japonés

Texto del Libro: Ishidaya es un restaurante japonés en el distrito central de Hanói. El proyecto utiliza el Taisho Roman, una época en la que las culturas japonesa y occidental se entrecruzaban, como marco de referencia, mediando entre la estética japonesa y el carácter occidental del edificio. Una estructura de madera sobre la barra combina la construcción tradicional con la geometría Art Déco y actúa como elemento visual clave. Más que decoración, moldea la percepción a través de la luz y los puntos de vista cambiantes. El resultado es un espacio contenido que superpone referencias culturales y ofrece una interpretación clara de la gastronomía contemporánea en Hanói.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronce

Ishidaya Función Principal: Restaurante Japonés 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 Ishidaya Función Principal: Restaurante Japonés 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. Ishidaya Función Principal: Restaurante Japonés 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: 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