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Urban Banyan Interiørdesign for bakerikafé by Shinjiro Heshiki

Urban Banyan Interiørdesign for bakerikafé by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award i Bronse in Interiør- og utstillingsdesign Competition Category.


BronseInteriør· 2026

Urban Banyan Interiørdesign for bakerikafé

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Runva Company Inc.

A' Design Award i Bronse Winner in Interiør Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Urban Banyan Interiørdesign for bakerikafé

Urban Banyan er interiørdesignet til en bakerikafé i Naha by, Okinawa. Rommet er sentrert rundt et skulpturelt banyantre som måler 6000 mm i bredden og 3600 mm i høyden. Skulpturen kombinerer lektepaneler, mørtel og kunstnerisk puss, mens lette 3D-printede grener i resin oppfyller brannsikkerhetskravene. Utvendig skilting var ikke tillatt, så glassfasaden på 14,5 meter er utstyrt med 3 mm akrylpaneler trykket med halvtransparente blader. Bakgrunnsbelysning forvandler butikkfronten til en varm lykt om natten.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award i Bronse

Urban Banyan Interiørdesign for bakerikafé er vinner av A' Design Award i Bronse, en høyt prestisjefylt anerkjennelse som tildeles enestående design som utmerker seg ved kreativitet, oppfinnsomhet og skarpsindighet. Bronsevinnere er rikt dyktige og påfallende kreative gjenstander som bekrefter designernes store erfaring, fantasi og ressurssterkhet. Urban Banyan Interiørdesign for bakerikafé forventes å være en høyt ansett, beundret og verdsatt gjenstand som er bemerkelsesverdig profesjonell og nyskapende. Dette designet, som har vunnet A' Design Award i Bronse, rommer beste praksis innen kunst, vitenskap, design og teknologi og utmerker seg ved sin omtanke for detaljer. Urban Banyan Interiørdesign for bakerikafé tilfredsstiller behov på en strålende måte, berører ønsker, sjarmerer følelser og vekker nysgjerrighet.

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

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