Ryukyu Sanctuary Mamanu Totonu o le Faleaiga by Shinjiro Heshiki

Ryukyu Sanctuary Mamanu Totonu o le Faleaiga by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Uʻamea in Mamanu Totonu Competition Category.

UʻameaTotonu· 2026

Ryukyu Sanctuary Mamanu Totonu o le Faleaiga

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Shabu Shabu Ryukyu

A' Design Award Uʻamea Winner in Totonu Category

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The Design

About Ryukyu Sanctuary Mamanu Totonu o le Faleaiga

O le Ryukyu Sanctuary o se mamanu totonu o se faleaiga o loo tu i le Auala o Kokusai-dori i Naha, Okinawa. O le pito i luma o le fale ua faia i le foliga o se atigi amu, na fausia mai uamea faapipii faapitoa na valiina ma lima i lanu amu lanumoana ma lanu emerala. A ui atu i le faitotoa, e siitia atu tagata asiasi mai le auala pisapisao i totonu o se potu taumafa filemu. O puipui ua palasitaina i lima ua toe faaalia ai le foliga vaaia o faufauga amu. O se pa vaeloto tioata lanu felanulanuai e 4700 i le 1700 milimita e feaveai ai ata o le sami ma le laueleele o Okinawa. O tioata Ryukyu ma moli faamalamalama le tuusao ua faaatoatoaina ai le avanoa.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Uʻamea

O le A' Design Award Uʻamea na manumalo ai Ryukyu Sanctuary Mamanu Totonu o le Faleaiga, o se faamaoniga mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu lelei e faataunuu ai manaʻoga faapolofesa ma pisinisi e faamoemoeina mai galuega ua mamanuina lelei. O ē manumalo i le Uʻamea e faaalia ai le tomai tele, le faapitoa maualuga, le malamalama o tagata poto ma le mafai fatufatuaʻi o ē na faia. E faamoemoeina Ryukyu Sanctuary Mamanu Totonu o le Faleaiga e avea ma mea ua matuā vivii, mataʻina ma pelepelea e aogā ma fou. O lenei mamanu na manumalo i le A' Design Award Uʻamea e tuufaatasia ai faiga sili o le pisinisi ma e iai uiga faatekonolosi mafai ua fesoʻotaʻi ma le poto ma le taleni. Ona o lona faatuatuaina, e tatau ai Ryukyu Sanctuary Mamanu Totonu o le Faleaiga ona faaaloalogia ma ua mamanuina e tuuina mai ai faaleleiga o le olaga e fesoasoani e faia ai e le lalolagi se nofoaga e sili atu ona lelei.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Located on Okinawa's busy Kokusai-dori, the facade's coral shell evokes a reef in emerald green seas, acting as a portal. In Okinawa, coral symbolizes protection and life. This design bridges tradition with modern art via hand-crafted plaster that recreates the tactile texture of reefs. Inside, city noise fades into a serene, underwater dimension. The sanctuary mirrors the mythical Dragon Palace, a space where local heritage, craftsmanship, and hospitality coexist in harmony.
Dimensions & Packaging: Stained-glass: 4700 mm x 1700 mm. Floor area: 154 sqm. Ceiling height: 2800 mm. Structure: Reinforced Concrete. Finishes: Hand-plastered art walls, steel flat-bar art painting, custom Ryukyu glass installations.
Tags: Okinawa Design, Ryukyu Glass, Coral Reef Architecture, Undersea Atmosphere, Ryugu-jo Concept, Handcrafted Plaster Art, Japanese Restaurant, Light and Shadow, Cultural Identity, Authentic Ryukyu Modern
Production Technology: The facade features custom-curved steel bars hand-painted in coral-blue and emerald tones to mimic reef rhythms. Interior walls use hand-plastered textures to recreate the tactile depth of coral formations. A 4700mm x 1700mm glass partition combines stained-glass artistry with traditional motifs. By integrating Ryukyu glass with indirect lighting, the design achieves a balance of materiality and ethereal light, blending local craftsmanship with contemporary spatial art.
Design Challenge: Strict fire codes required smoke exhaust windows on the facade, while local laws prohibited external signage. These constraints were overcome by using the cubic curvature of custom steel bars to mask functional elements, creating a facade that acts as its own landmark. By integrating a banyan tree motif into the play of shadows, the building achieves a distinctive identity that prioritizes artistic expression over conventional commercial branding, harmonizing necessity with creativity.
Research: This project explores the link between Okinawa and the sea, using coral as a vital cultural symbol. Research focused on translating coral's protective qualities into a spatial experience. By using local craft and Ryukyu glass, the design reinterprets natural elements for a modern context. Despite strict fire and signage codes, the project transformed legal constraints into a landmark facade that honors marine heritage and Okinawa's poetic spirit.
Inspiration: Inspired by Ryugu-jo, the mythical undersea palace. This project embodies "Authentic Ryukyu Modern" by blending Okinawan heritage with contemporary luxury. It seeks to recreate the serene beauty of coral reefs submerged in emerald green waters, redefining traditional motifs into a timeless spatial experience that honors the island's natural and cultural roots.
Project Duration: Design planning for the project began in February 2024 in Naha, Okinawa, with construction completed in July 2024.
Operation Flow: The journey begins on vibrant Kokusai-dori Avenue. Passing through the coral shell facade, guests experience a dramatic sensory shift as urban noise is replaced by serene silence. This threshold acts as a portal to another dimension. Inside, the play of light through Ryukyu glass and tactile reef-like walls create an immersive underwater world. This transition from the chaotic city to a tranquil sanctuary allows diners to lose track of time, fully entering the mythical atmosphere of the Dragon Palace.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Conception Co., Ltd., 2025.
Image Credits: Photographer: Masahiro Ishibashi