Skip to content
The Japanese Restaurant Intérieur de restaurant by Yohei Akao - Strickland

The Japanese Restaurant Intérieur de restaurant by Yohei Akao - Strickland is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award d'Argent in Design d'Intérieur Competition Category.


ArgentIntérieur· 2021

The Japanese Restaurant Intérieur de restaurant

by Yohei Akao - Strickland

Client: Strickland

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Intérieur Category

Colors

The Design

About The Japanese Restaurant Intérieur de restaurant

Le restaurant japonais est un restaurant de restauration continue situé au sein d'un complexe hôtelier de luxe à Nikko, dans la préfecture de Tochigi, au Japon. Cet espace de 401 mètres carrés propose des sushis edomae, du teppanyaki, une cuisine kaiseki et des plats à la carte. Un long couloir orné d'un treillis inspiré de l'artisanat kumiko de Kanuma mène à la réception et à la salle à manger principale, qui offre une vue sur le mont Nantai. Les comptoirs de teppanyaki et de sushis, une salle en tatami, un salon privé et une terrasse entourent l'espace principal. Des treillis en aluminium moulé sous pression, des murs en enduit Juraku jaune et un panneau rouge sculpté représentant des plantes locales composent le décor.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

The Japanese Restaurant Intérieur de restaurant est lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent, une reconnaissance énormément prestigieuse décernée à des designs haut de gamme, superbes et impressionnants. Les lauréats Argent sont des œuvres tout à fait brillantes et extrêmement créatives qui illustrent l'expertise, le talent et la perspicacité remarquables de leurs concepteurs. The Japanese Restaurant Intérieur de restaurant est censé être une œuvre merveilleuse, une vitrine de savoir-faire, remarquablement professionnelle et profondément innovante. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent est une invention très notable et admirée, qui sert l'art, la science, le design et la technologie et en repousse les limites. The Japanese Restaurant Intérieur de restaurant est une création très enviée qui éveille les désirs, apporte des sentiments positifs et suscite émerveillement et étonnement.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture, about two and a half hours from Tokyo, located at The Ritz-Carlton Nikko, a luxury resort, overlooking Mt. Nantai on the shores of Lake Chuzenji.
A specialty restaurant that offers Edomae sushi, Teppanyaki, Kaiseki cuisine, and a la carte while being an all-day dining restaurant. Passing through the long corridor from its entrance, there is a main dining room with a view of Mt. Nantai, various seats such as a tatami room and a counter enjoying dining.
Dimensions & Packaging
The total area of this restaurant is 401 square meters.
It has a main dining area, Teppanyaki room, Sushi room, private dining room and terrace seating area.
Tags
hotel, restaurant, luxury, hospitality
Production Technology
・ Aluminum die-cast lattice inspired by traditional craft, Kanuma Kumiko
・ Yellow Juraku wall inspired by the Shoin-zukuri
・ A red carving panel with the motif of seasonal plants that live around Lake Chuzenji in collaboration with a master of Nikko carving.
Design Challenge
The most challenging content for us was how to replace traditional Japanese crafts with modern ones suitable for luxury hotels. Replacing materials from wood to metal and giving patterns a more modern look. Using various methods such as changing the scale of the pattern, trial and error was carried out to maintain modernity and a sense of grade, and finally the design was completed. It was also challenging to collaborate with the son of a master craftsman of Nikko Toshogu. After repeated discussions, we carefully derived the scale of the motif and the depth of carving.
Research
In design, researching on the "location" and "history" of land is very important. What happened in this place, what was happening in this place?
The town of Nikko, on a high mountain, in front of Lake Chuzenji, a place that used to be a summer resort. Gradually narrowing the scope of research, we carefully narrowed down the appropriate way of land. Ultimately, it should be the only space with a story that can only be expressed in this land.
Inspiration
There are 3 design cores.
The first is "traditional Japanese residence composition" which has the corridor, tea room, Shoin-zukuri, and garden. The second is "Nature of Nikko". Inspired by the flora and fauna that live around Lake Chuzenji in Nikko, replaced with a modern interpretation, and used for patterns. The final is "Nikko Craftsmanship". A collection of master craftsmen from all over Japan during the construction of Nikko Toshogu, which is now a World Heritage Site, and as a result, various crafts that make use of this land-specific technology remain.
Project Duration
The project finished in July 2020, located in Nikko city, Japan.
Operation Flow
Guests arrive at the reception as they pass through a long corridor of light and shadow woven by a lattice inspired by Kanuma Kumiko. The reception counter adopts Japanese tea ceremony, boiling water and inviting guests with tea hospitality. Further through the corridor, you will encounter a large space in the large main dining room, with a sloping lattice ceiling covered with indirect lighting. In addition, there are private rooms for teppanyaki counters, sushi counters, and tatami mats around the main dining area.
Patents
Copyright @ STRICKLAND
Team Members
Lighting Designer : WORKTECHT LIGHTING DESIGN & CONSULTANT
Art Consultant : ART FRONT GALLERY
Image Credits
Photographer Yoshio Shiratori

Sponsored

Explore Beyond Designers.org

Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.

Good Design Deserves Great Recognition

Nominate Your Work for the A' Design Award.

Nominate