Ivan Krupin · CLIENT: Shiroyama
The main theme of the project is interpenetration and interconnection. The design combines metaphors and cultural symbols of Kazakh and Japanese culture. The theme of the Ryoanji Rock Garden and Wabi Sabi is harmoniously intertwined with the sacred Baiterek tree and the stylized Bozzhira mountain range. The surrounding nature penetrates into the interior in the form of stones taken from the shore, sofas stylized as boulders and fills the space with light reflected from the metal ceiling, as well as a natural range of materials.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The main theme of the project is interpenetration and interconnection. Starting with the name, Japanese translation of the name of the location, through the relationship with the nature of the rocky seashore on which the restaurant is located and ending with the interpenetration of Japanese and Kazakh culture, expressed in metaphors, colors and selection of materials and author’s elements. Each element in the interior has its own meaning and contribution to the overall harmony and atmosphere.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Total area of the restaurant is 286 sqm.
- Tags
- Shiroyama, Uniting, Culture, Nature, Restaurant
- Production Technology
- An interesting point is that to save money, CBPB slabs were used to imitate concrete panels in wall decoration. Characteristic local materials were also used, such as tabletops made of local Elm, and stones were taken from the shore under the windows of the restaurant. A podium in the center of the room allows patrons behind the bar to use regular chairs, eliminating the difference in height.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge when creating the project was the construction budget, as well as the remoteness and isolation of the city. The search for cost reduction and the need to use local possibilities and materials were the main problems when creating the interior
- Project Duration
- The project started in January 2023 and was completed in March 2024. Located in Aktau, Kazakhstan.
- Operation Flow
- The interior was created taking into account changes in natural light throughout the day. In the morning it is filled with sunlight and becomes light, thanks to the reflective property of the metal ceiling, in the evening the reflection of the sunset fills it with its own shades, and at night the restaurant is immersed in a cozy atmosphere created by accent lighting and a variety of backlights that highlight the architecture and interior elements.
- Research
- An important point in the creation of the project was the task of immersing visitors in a harmonious atmosphere of the environment and showing how local nature and culture can subtly resonate with another culture. My goal was to give visitors a sense of harmony between Japanese cuisine and their familiar surroundings and cultural symbols, without going into design for the sake of design in the form of just a good impersonal interior.
- Inspiration
- I found inspiration in the nature of the Caspian Sea coast, on the shore of which the restaurant is located, and panoramic glazing allows us to strengthen this connection. I looked for themes in Japanese and Kazakh culture to combine them. Thus, the central composition personifies the sacred Baiterek tree, uniting the past, present and future in Kazakh culture, which is reflected in the stylized inverted sea, while other elements gently lead into the atmosphere of Japanese contemplation
- Image Credits
- Image #1 : Photographer Rauf Ismailov
Optional image #1 : Photographer Rauf Ismailov
Optional image #2 : Photographer Rauf Ismailov
Optional image #3 : Photographer Rauf Ismailov
Optional image #4 : Photographer Ivan Krupin
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