Ishidaya Mahi Matua: Wharekai Hapanihi by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Ishidaya Mahi Matua: Wharekai Hapanihi by Atsushi Kawaguchi 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

Ishidaya Mahi Matua: Wharekai Hapanihi

by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Client: Ishidaya

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Roto Whare Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Ishidaya Mahi Matua: Wharekai Hapanihi

Kōrero Pukapuka: Ko Ishidaya he wharekai Hapanihi kei te takiwā pokapū o Hanoi. E whakamahi ana te kaupapa i te Taisho Roman, he wā i whakawhiti ai ngā ahurea o Hapani me ō te Uru, hei anga mōna, e takawaenga ana i waenga i te ātaahua Hapanihi me te āhuatanga Uru o te whare. Ko tētahi anga rākau kei runga ake i te papa e whakakotahi ana i te hanganga tuku iho me te āhua matawhātoro o Art Deco, ā, e mahi ana hei tino take ā-tirohanga. Kaua ko te whakapaipai, engari he whakatō i te whakaaro mā te māramatanga me ngā tirohanga hurihuri. Ko te otinga he wāhi āta pupuri e whakapāpā ana i ngā tohutoro ahurea, ā, e whakarato ana i tētahi whakamāramatanga mārama mō te kai onāianei i Hanoi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Ishidaya Mahi Matua: Wharekai Hapanihi 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 Ishidaya Mahi Matua: Wharekai Hapanihi 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 Ishidaya Mahi Matua: Wharekai Hapanihi 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: 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