Urban Banyan T'anta Ruwana Café Ukhu Wasip Diseñon by Shinjiro Heshiki

Urban Banyan T'anta Ruwana Café Ukhu Wasip Diseñon by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu in Ukupi Kamay Competition Category.

BurunsiUkupi· 2026

Urban Banyan T'anta Ruwana Café Ukhu Wasip Diseñon

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Runva Company Inc.

A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu Winner in Ukupi Category

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Colors

The Design

About Urban Banyan T'anta Ruwana Café Ukhu Wasip Diseñon

Urban Banyan nisqaqa Naha llaqtapi, Okinawa suyupi, huk t'anta ruwana café ukhu wasip diseñonmi. Kay pachaqa huk hatun banyan sach'a rikch'aypi ruwasqapi muyurin, chayqa 6000 mm kinraymanta, 3600 mm sayayniyoqmi kachkan. Kay ruwasqaqa lath tablakunata, morterota, sumaq yeso llink'itawan huñun; chaymantapas, sasachakuymanta amachanapaq kamachikuykunata hunt'aspa, k'allmakunaqa 3D-printed nisqa chhalla resinamanta ruwasqa kachkan. Hawapi unanchakuna churayqa mana saqisqachu karqan, chaymi 14.5 metro qhispi ñawpaq perqaqa 3 mm acrílico tablakunata apan, chaykunapi chawpi-rikukuq raphikuna imprimisqa kachkan. Tutapiqa, qhepamanta k'anchaywan, tindap ñawpaqninqa q'oñi k'anchana hina rikukun.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu

Urban Banyan T'anta Ruwana Café Ukhu Wasip Diseñon A' Design Award Burunsi Premiu mishak kan, jatun yupaychay, kayta mana shuk shina, mushuk yuyaypi, yuyaypi shinallatak chaskik kaypi riksishka diseñukunaman kun. Burunsi mishak kashkakunaka ruray ushayta charik shinallatak mancharina mushuk rurashkakunami, paykunata rurakkunapak achka yachayta, yuyayta shinallatak ruray ushayta rikuchinku. Urban Banyan T'anta Ruwana Café Ukhu Wasip Diseñon sinchi yupaychashka, kuyashka shinallatak riksishka shuk ruray kanata munanku, ruray yuyaywan shinallatak mushuk yuyaywan. Kay Burunsi Premiu japishka diseñuka arti, siensia, diseñu shinallatak tekinolojíapi ashtawan alli ruraykunata tantachin shinallatak ima ukumanta rikuypi sumak kan. Urban Banyan T'anta Ruwana Café Ukhu Wasip Diseñon mañaykunata alli paktachin, munaykunata llankan, shunkuta kuyachin shinallatak yachayta munayta kallarichin.

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