Urban Banyan Ka Hoʻolālā Loko o ka Hale Kūʻai Palaoa a Kope by Shinjiro Heshiki

Urban Banyan Ka Hoʻolālā Loko o ka Hale Kūʻai Palaoa a Kope by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Loko Hale a me Hōʻike Competition Category.

KeleaweLoko Hale· 2026

Urban Banyan Ka Hoʻolālā Loko o ka Hale Kūʻai Palaoa a Kope

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Runva Company Inc.

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Loko Hale Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Urban Banyan Ka Hoʻolālā Loko o ka Hale Kūʻai Palaoa a Kope

ʻO Urban Banyan ka hoʻolālā loko o kahi hale kūʻai palaoa a kope ma ke kūlanakauhale ʻo Naha, Okinawa. Ke kikowaena o ka wahi he kumulāʻau banyan i kālai ʻia, he 6000 mm ka laulā a he 3600 mm ke kiʻekiʻe. Hoʻohui ʻia ka mea kālai i nā papa lath, ka mortar a me ka puna noʻeau, a ʻo nā lālā, ua hana ʻia i ka resin māmā i paʻi ʻia ma ke ʻano 3D, a hoʻokō pū i nā lula palekana ahi. ʻAʻole i ʻae ʻia nā hōʻailona ma waho, no laila ke lawe nei ke alo aniani he 14.5 mika i nā papa acrylic 3 mm i paʻi ʻia me nā lau aniani ʻāpaʻakea. Ma o ke kukui hope, lilo ke alo o ka hale kūʻai i ipukukui mehana i ka pō.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Urban Banyan Ka Hoʻolālā Loko o ka Hale Kūʻai Palaoa a Kope i ka A' Design Award Keleawe, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kūʻokoʻa i ʻike ʻia ma o ka hana noʻeau, ka akamai a me ka makakoho. He mau hana mākaukau a hana noʻeau kupaianaha nā lanakila Keleawe e hōʻoia ana i ka ʻike nui, ka noʻonoʻo a me ka maʻalea o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Urban Banyan Ka Hoʻolālā Loko o ka Hale Kūʻai Palaoa a Kope he mea i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia, he ʻoihana a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Keleawe e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana, a maikaʻi no kona nānā ʻana i nā kikoʻī. Hoʻokō maikaʻi ka hoʻolālā Urban Banyan Ka Hoʻolālā Loko o ka Hale Kūʻai Palaoa a Kope i nā pono, hoʻopā i ka makemake, hoʻohiwahiwa i nā manaʻo a huki i ka makemake e ʻike.

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