Ishidaya Primaire functie: Japans restaurant by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Ishidaya Primaire functie: Japans restaurant by Atsushi Kawaguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award in Brons in Interieur en Tentoonstellingsontwerp Competition Category.

BronsInterieur· 2026

Ishidaya Primaire functie: Japans restaurant

by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Client: Ishidaya

A' Design Award in Brons Winner in Interieur Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180958

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Colors

The Design

About Ishidaya Primaire functie: Japans restaurant

Boektekst: Ishidaya is een Japans restaurant in het centrale district van Hanoi. Het project gebruikt Taisho Roman, een periode waarin de Japanse en westerse cultuur elkaar kruisten, als kader en bemiddelt tussen de Japanse esthetiek en het westerse karakter van het gebouw. Een houten constructie boven de toonbank combineert traditionele bouwtechnieken met Art Deco-geometrie en fungeert als een belangrijk visueel element. In plaats van decoratie geeft het vorm aan de waarneming door middel van licht en veranderende gezichtspunten. Het resultaat is een ingetogen ruimte die culturele verwijzingen op elkaar stapelt en een heldere interpretatie biedt van hedendaags dineren in Hanoi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Brons

Ishidaya Primaire functie: Japans restaurant is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Brons, een hoogst prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan uitstekende ontwerpen die zich onderscheiden door creativiteit, vindingrijkheid en scherpzinnigheid. Winnaars in Brons zijn ruimschoots vaardige en opvallend creatieve artefacten die de grote ervaring, verbeelding en het vernuft van hun ontwerpers bevestigen. Ishidaya Primaire functie: Japans restaurant wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerd, bewonderd en gekoesterd object te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Brons heeft gewonnen, verwerkt de beste praktijken in kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie en is uitstekend door zijn aandacht voor detail. Ishidaya Primaire functie: Japans restaurant bevredigt schitterend behoeften, raakt verlangens, charmeert gevoelens en spreekt de nieuwsgierigheid aan.

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