Urban Banyan Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Wharekai Parāoa by Shinjiro Heshiki

Urban Banyan Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Wharekai Parāoa by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Roto Whare me te Whakaaturanga Competition Category.

ParahiRoto Whare· 2026

Urban Banyan Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Wharekai Parāoa

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Runva Company Inc.

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Roto Whare Category

5,334

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #173354

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

Colors

The Design

About Urban Banyan Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Wharekai Parāoa

Ko Urban Banyan te hoahoa o roto o tētahi wharekai parāoa i te Tāone o Naha, Okinawa. Ko te iho o te wāhi nei he rākau banyan whakairo, e 6000 mm te whānui, e 3600 mm te teitei. Ka honoa i roto i te whakairo nei ngā papa lath, te moata me te raima toi, ā, ko te rīhini māmā i tāia ā-3D hei hanga i ngā peka, e tutuki ai hoki ngā ture haumaru ahi. Kāore i whakaaetia he tohu ki waho, nō reira kei te aroaro karaihe 14.5 mita ngā panera acrylic 3 mm kua tāia ki ngā rau āhua-mārama. Mā te whakamarama o muri ka huri te aroaro o te toa hei rama mahana i te pō.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Urban Banyan Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Wharekai Parāoa te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Urban Banyan Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Wharekai Parāoa he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Urban Banyan Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Wharekai Parāoa i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

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