Urban Banyan Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa wa Mikate by Shinjiro Heshiki

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

ShabaMambo ya Ndani· 2026

Urban Banyan Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa wa Mikate

by Shinjiro Heshiki

Client: Runva Company Inc.

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

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Colors

The Design

About Urban Banyan Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa wa Mikate

Urban Banyan ni muundo wa ndani wa mkahawa wa mikate katika Jiji la Naha, Okinawa. Nafasi hii inajikita kwenye mti wa banyan wa kisanaa wenye upana wa milimita 6000 na urefu wa milimita 3600. Sanamu hii inachanganya mbao za lathi, chokaa cha saruji na plasta ya kisanaa, huku resini nyepesi iliyochapishwa kwa teknolojia ya 3D ikitengeneza matawi na kukidhi kanuni za usalama wa moto. Alama za nje hazikuruhusiwa, hivyo sehemu ya mbele ya kioo yenye urefu wa mita 14.5 imebeba paneli za akriliki za milimita 3 zilizochapishwa majani yanayoonekana nusu. Mwangaza wa nyuma hugeuza sehemu ya mbele ya duka kuwa taa yenye joto wakati wa usiku.

The Recognition

About the Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award

Urban Banyan Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa wa Mikate ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima kubwa unaotolewa kwa miundo bora inayotofautishwa kwa ubunifu, ustadi na busara. Washindi wa Shaba ni kazi za ufundi mwingi na bunifu ya kushangaza zinazothibitisha uzoefu mpana, mawazo na ustadi wa wabunifu wao. Urban Banyan Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa wa Mikate inatarajiwa kuwa kitu kinachothaminiwa sana, kupendwa na kuenziwa, ambacho ni cha kitaalamu na bunifu kwa kiasi kikubwa. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award unajumuisha mbinu bora katika sanaa, sayansi, usanifu na teknolojia, na ni bora kwa umakini wake kwa undani. Urban Banyan Muundo wa Ndani wa Mkahawa wa Mikate hutosheleza mahitaji kwa uzuri, hugusa hamu, huvutia hisia na kuvutia udadisi.

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