Ishidaya Umurimo w'Ibanze: Resitora y'Abayapani by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Ishidaya Umurimo w'Ibanze: Resitora y'Abayapani by Atsushi Kawaguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze in Igishushanyo cy'Imbere y'Inyubako Competition Category.

BuronzeImbere y'Inyubako· 2026

Ishidaya Umurimo w'Ibanze: Resitora y'Abayapani

by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Client: Ishidaya

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze Winner in Imbere y'Inyubako Category

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Colors

The Design

About Ishidaya Umurimo w'Ibanze: Resitora y'Abayapani

Ishidaya ni resitora y'Abayapani iherereye mu mujyi rwagati wa Hanoi. Uyu mushinga ukoresha Taisho Roman, igihe umuco w'Abayapani n'uw'Abanyaburayi byahuriyeho, nk'urwego rwawo, wunga hagati y'ubwiza bw'Abayapani n'imiterere y'Iburengerazuba y'inyubako. Urwego rw'ibiti rwo hejuru y'imeza ruhuza uburyo gakondo bwo kubaka n'imiterere ya geometrike ya Art Deco kandi rukora nk'ikintu cy'ingenzi kigaragara mu maso. Aho kuba imitako, rugena uko ibintu bibonwa binyuze mu rumuri n'aho ureba bihinduka. Igisubizo ni umwanya ubereye ushyira hamwe ibimenyetso by'umuco kandi utanga ubusobanuro busobanutse bw'uburyo bwa none bwo kurya i Hanoi.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

Ishidaya Umurimo w'Ibanze: Resitora y'Abayapani ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze, ishimwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo by'indashyikirwa birangwa no guhanga, ubwenge n'ubushishozi. Abegukanye Buronze ni ibihangano bifite ubuhanga bwinshi kandi bihanga cyane, bishimangira uburambe, ubwenge n'ubushobozi bw'ababihanze. Ishidaya Umurimo w'Ibanze: Resitora y'Abayapani biteganyijwe ko izaba ikintu cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifite ubunyamwuga n'udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Buronze gikoresha uburyo bwiza mu buhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga kandi kirarenze mu gutaha ku tuntu duto. Ishidaya Umurimo w'Ibanze: Resitora y'Abayapani ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

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