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Ishidaya Trano fisakafoana Japoney by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Ishidaya Trano fisakafoana Japoney by Atsushi Kawaguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Varahina in Famolavolana Habaka Anatiny ary Fampisehoana Competition Category.


VarahinaAnatiny· 2026

Ishidaya Trano fisakafoana Japoney

by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Client: Ishidaya

A' Design Award Varahina Winner in Anatiny Category

Colors

The Design

About Ishidaya Trano fisakafoana Japoney

Ishidaya dia trano fisakafoana Japoney ao anatin'ny faritra afovoan'i Hanoi. Ny tetikasa dia mampiasa ny Taisho Roman, vanim-potoana iray izay nifanenan'ny kolontsaina Japoney sy Tandrefana, ho rafitra fototra, mba hanao fanelanelanana eo amin'ny hatsaran-tarehy Japoney sy ny toetra Tandrefan'ny trano. Rafitra hazo iray ambonin'ny birao no manambatra ny fanorenana nentim-paharazana amin'ny jeometrian'ny Art Deco ary miasa ho singa hita maso lehibe. Fa tsy haingo fotsiny, dia manamboatra ny fahitana amin'ny alalan'ny hazavana sy ny fiovan'ny toerana ijerena izy io. Ny vokany dia habaka voafehy izay manisy sosona ny fanovozan-kevitra kolontsaina ary manolotra fandikana mazava momba ny fisakafoanana ankehitriny ao Hanoi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Varahina

Nandresy ny A' Design Award Varahina ny famolavolana Ishidaya Trano fisakafoana Japoney, fankasitrahana malaza be omena ny famolavolana miavaka izay mampiavaka ny fahaiza-mamorona, ny fahazotoana ary ny fahamaotinan-tsaina. Ny mpandresy Varahina dia zavatra vita tanana mahay dia mahay ary mamorona mivantana izay manamafy ny traikefa be dia be, ny sarintsaina ary ny fahaizan-kafoy an'ny mpamolavola azy. Andrasana ho zavatra ankasitrahana be, ankafizina ary tiana, mahay amin'ny asa sady vaovao ny famolavolana Ishidaya Trano fisakafoana Japoney. Ity famolavolana nandresy ny A' Design Award Varahina ity dia mitahiry ny fomba fanao tsara indrindra amin'ny zavakanto, ny siansa, ny famolavolana ary ny teknolojia, ary tsara indrindra amin'ny fitandremana ny antsipirihany. Ny famolavolana Ishidaya Trano fisakafoana Japoney dia mahafa-po ny filana tsara, mikasika ny faniriana, mahasarika ny fihetseham-po ary misarika ny fahalianana.

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

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