Urban Banyan Moralo oa ka Hare oa Bakery Cafe by Shinjiro Heshiki

Urban Banyan Moralo oa ka Hare oa Bakery Cafe by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Sebaka sa Ka Hare le Dipontsho Competition Category.

BoronseKa Hare· 2026

Urban Banyan Moralo oa ka Hare oa Bakery Cafe

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Runva Company Inc.

Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award Winner in Ka Hare Category

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Colors

The Design

About Urban Banyan Moralo oa ka Hare oa Bakery Cafe

Urban Banyan ke moralo oa ka hare oa bakery cafe e Naha City, Okinawa. Sebaka sena se shebane le sefate sa banyan se betliloeng se bophara ba 6000 mm le bophahamo ba 3600 mm. Setšoantšo sena se kopanya maqephe a lath, seretse sa mortar le polastara ea bonono, ha resine e bobebe e hatisitsoeng ka 3D e etsa makala 'me e finyella melao ea polokeho ea mollo. Matšoao a kantle a ne a sa lumelloa, kahoo bokapele ba khalase ba limithara tse 14.5 bo nkile liphanele tsa acrylic tsa 3 mm tse hatisitsoeng ka makhasi a bonahalang hanyane. Khanya e tsoang ka morao e fetola lebenkele lebone le futhumetseng bosiu.

The Recognition

About the Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award

Urban Banyan Moralo oa ka Hare oa Bakery Cafe ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e ikhethang e tsejoang ka boqapi, bohlale ba ho qapa le bohlale. Bahapi ba Boronse ke lintho tse nang le bokhoni ka ho felletseng le boqapi bo hlollang tse tiisang boiphihlelo bo bongata, mohopolo le bokhoni ba ho iphumana ba baqapi ba tsona. Urban Banyan Moralo oa ka Hare oa Bakery Cafe e lebelletsoe ho ba ntho e hlomphuoang haholo, e ratoang le e ratehang, e nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award o kenyelletsa mekhoa e metle ka ho fetesisa bonong, mahlaleng, moralong le theknolojing mme o hlahella ka ho tsepamisa maikutlo lintlheng tse nyenyane. Urban Banyan Moralo oa ka Hare oa Bakery Cafe e kutloisisa litlhoko hantle, e ama litakatso, e hapa maikutlo mme e tsosa takatso ea ho tseba.

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