Ryukyu Sanctuary Zanen Cikin Gidan Abinci by Shinjiro Heshiki

Ryukyu Sanctuary Zanen Cikin Gidan Abinci by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Kyautar A' Design Award ta Baƙin Ƙarfe in Cikin Gida Competition Category.

Baƙin ƘarfeCikin Gida· 2026

Ryukyu Sanctuary Zanen Cikin Gidan Abinci

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Shabu Shabu Ryukyu

Kyautar A' Design Award ta Baƙin Ƙarfe Winner in Cikin Gida Category

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Colors

The Design

About Ryukyu Sanctuary Zanen Cikin Gidan Abinci

Ryukyu Sanctuary wani zanen cikin gidan abinci ne dake kan titin Kokusai-dori a Naha, Okinawa. An siffanta fuskar ginin kamar kwafsar murjani, wanda aka gina daga sandunan karfe da aka lankwasa musamman aka kuma yi musu fenti da hannu cikin launukan shudin murjani da koren emerald. Bayan wucewa ta kofar shiga, baki na tashi daga titin mai cike da hada-hada zuwa dakin cin abinci mai natsuwa. Bangayen da aka shafa da hannu na sake kwaikwayon yanayin siffar murjani. Wani shingen gilashi mai launi mai girman milimita 4700 da 1700 na dauke da zane-zanen teku da kasar Okinawa. Gilashin Ryukyu da hasken kai-tsaye-a-kaikaice sun kammala wurin.

The Recognition

About the Kyautar A' Design Award ta Baƙin Ƙarfe

Zanen Ryukyu Sanctuary Zanen Cikin Gidan Abinci ya lashe Kyautar A' Design Award ta Baƙin Ƙarfe, wata karramawa mai daraja da ake bai wa kyawawan zane-zane waɗanda ke cika buƙatun ƙwararru da masana'antu da ake tsammani daga ƙirƙire-ƙirƙire da aka tsara da kyau. Waɗanda suka lashe kyautar Baƙin Ƙarfe suna nuna babban ƙwarewa, ƙwarewa ta musamman, fahimtar ƙwararru da ikon ƙirƙira na masu ƙirƙirar su. Ana sa ran zanen Ryukyu Sanctuary Zanen Cikin Gidan Abinci ya zama ƙirƙira da ake girmamawa sosai, ake sha'awa da ƙauna wacce ke da amfani kuma mai sababbin abubuwa. Wannan zane da ya lashe Kyautar A' Design Award ta Baƙin Ƙarfe yana haɗa mafi kyawun ayyukan fannin kuma yana da halayen fasaha masu cancanta da ke da alaƙa da sanin yadda da baiwa. Ana girmama zanen Ryukyu Sanctuary Zanen Cikin Gidan Abinci saboda cikakkiyar kulawarsa kuma an tsara shi don ba da ingantuwar rayuwa da ke taimakawa wajen mai da duniya wuri mafi kyau.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Located on Okinawa's busy Kokusai-dori, the facade's coral shell evokes a reef in emerald green seas, acting as a portal. In Okinawa, coral symbolizes protection and life. This design bridges tradition with modern art via hand-crafted plaster that recreates the tactile texture of reefs. Inside, city noise fades into a serene, underwater dimension. The sanctuary mirrors the mythical Dragon Palace, a space where local heritage, craftsmanship, and hospitality coexist in harmony.
Dimensions & Packaging: Stained-glass: 4700 mm x 1700 mm. Floor area: 154 sqm. Ceiling height: 2800 mm. Structure: Reinforced Concrete. Finishes: Hand-plastered art walls, steel flat-bar art painting, custom Ryukyu glass installations.
Tags: Okinawa Design, Ryukyu Glass, Coral Reef Architecture, Undersea Atmosphere, Ryugu-jo Concept, Handcrafted Plaster Art, Japanese Restaurant, Light and Shadow, Cultural Identity, Authentic Ryukyu Modern
Production Technology: The facade features custom-curved steel bars hand-painted in coral-blue and emerald tones to mimic reef rhythms. Interior walls use hand-plastered textures to recreate the tactile depth of coral formations. A 4700mm x 1700mm glass partition combines stained-glass artistry with traditional motifs. By integrating Ryukyu glass with indirect lighting, the design achieves a balance of materiality and ethereal light, blending local craftsmanship with contemporary spatial art.
Design Challenge: Strict fire codes required smoke exhaust windows on the facade, while local laws prohibited external signage. These constraints were overcome by using the cubic curvature of custom steel bars to mask functional elements, creating a facade that acts as its own landmark. By integrating a banyan tree motif into the play of shadows, the building achieves a distinctive identity that prioritizes artistic expression over conventional commercial branding, harmonizing necessity with creativity.
Research: This project explores the link between Okinawa and the sea, using coral as a vital cultural symbol. Research focused on translating coral's protective qualities into a spatial experience. By using local craft and Ryukyu glass, the design reinterprets natural elements for a modern context. Despite strict fire and signage codes, the project transformed legal constraints into a landmark facade that honors marine heritage and Okinawa's poetic spirit.
Inspiration: Inspired by Ryugu-jo, the mythical undersea palace. This project embodies "Authentic Ryukyu Modern" by blending Okinawan heritage with contemporary luxury. It seeks to recreate the serene beauty of coral reefs submerged in emerald green waters, redefining traditional motifs into a timeless spatial experience that honors the island's natural and cultural roots.
Project Duration: Design planning for the project began in February 2024 in Naha, Okinawa, with construction completed in July 2024.
Operation Flow: The journey begins on vibrant Kokusai-dori Avenue. Passing through the coral shell facade, guests experience a dramatic sensory shift as urban noise is replaced by serene silence. This threshold acts as a portal to another dimension. Inside, the play of light through Ryukyu glass and tactile reef-like walls create an immersive underwater world. This transition from the chaotic city to a tranquil sanctuary allows diners to lose track of time, fully entering the mythical atmosphere of the Dragon Palace.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Conception Co., Ltd., 2025.
Image Credits: Photographer: Masahiro Ishibashi