Ryukyu Sanctuary Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa by Shinjiro Heshiki

Ryukyu Sanctuary Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award in Usanifu wa Nafasi za Ndani na Maonyesho Competition Category.

ChumaMambo ya Ndani· 2026

Ryukyu Sanctuary Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Shabu Shabu Ryukyu

Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award Winner in Mambo ya Ndani Category

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Colors

The Design

About Ryukyu Sanctuary Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa

Ryukyu Sanctuary ni muundo wa ndani wa mkahawa uliopo kwenye Barabara ya Kokusai-dori mjini Naha, Okinawa. Sehemu ya mbele ya jengo imeundwa kwa umbo la ganda la matumbawe, likitengenezwa kwa vyuma vilivyopindwa maalum na kupakwa rangi kwa mkono katika rangi za samawati ya matumbawe na zumaridi. Wakipita mlangoni, wageni huhama kutoka barabara yenye shughuli nyingi hadi katika chumba tulivu cha kulia chakula. Kuta zilizopigwa lipu kwa mkono zinarudisha muonekano wa maumbo ya matumbawe. Kizigeu cha vioo vya rangi chenye ukubwa wa milimita 4700 kwa 1700 kinabeba michoro ya bahari na nchi kavu ya Okinawa. Vioo vya Ryukyu na mwangaza usio wa moja kwa moja vinakamilisha nafasi hiyo.

The Recognition

About the Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award

Ryukyu Sanctuary Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima unaotolewa kwa miundo mizuri inayokidhi mahitaji ya kitaalamu na ya kiviwanda yanayotarajiwa kutoka kwa kazi zilizobuniwa vizuri. Washindi wa Chuma huonyesha ustadi mkubwa, utaalamu wa hali ya juu, uelewa wa kitaalamu na uwezo wa kibunifu wa waumbaji wao. Ryukyu Sanctuary Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa inatarajiwa kuwa kazi inayothaminiwa sana, kupendwa na kuenziwa, ambayo ni ya vitendo na bunifu. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award unajumuisha mbinu bora za tasnia na una sifa za kiufundi zenye uwezo zilizounganishwa na ujuzi na kipaji. Ryukyu Sanctuary Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa inaheshimiwa kwa uangalifu wake na imebuniwa kutoa maboresho ya ubora wa maisha yanayosaidia kuufanya ulimwengu kuwa mahali bora zaidi.

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