Urban Banyan Àgbékalẹ̀ Inú Ilé fún Kafé Búrẹ́dì by Shinjiro Heshiki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Àyà Inú Ilé àti Ibi Àfihàn Competition Category.
IdẹInú Ilé· 2026
Urban Banyan Àgbékalẹ̀ Inú Ilé fún Kafé Búrẹ́dì
Client: Runva Company Inc.
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Inú Ilé Category
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The Design
About Urban Banyan Àgbékalẹ̀ Inú Ilé fún Kafé Búrẹ́dì
Urban Banyan ni àgbékalẹ̀ inú ilé fún kafé búrẹ́dì kan ní Ìlú Naha, Okinawa. Àárín gbùngbùn ààyè náà ni igi banyan oníṣẹ́-ọnà tí ó gbòòrò tó 6000 mm ní ìbú àti 3600 mm ní gíga. Ère yìí ṣàkópọ̀ àwọn pákó lath, mọ́tà àti pilásítà oníṣẹ́-ọnà, nígbà tí resini fífúyẹ́ tí a fi ẹ̀rọ ìtẹ̀wé 3D ṣe dá àwọn ẹ̀ka igi náà, ó sì bá àwọn òfin ààbò iná mu. A kò gba ààyè fún àmì ìdánimọ̀ ní ìta, nítorí náà iwájú gíláàsì tí ó jẹ́ mítà 14.5 gbé àwọn pánẹ́ẹ̀lì acrylic 3 mm tí a tẹ àwọn ewé aláwọ̀-fẹ́rẹ̀ẹ́-hàn sí. Ìmọ́lẹ̀ láti ẹ̀yìn yí iwájú ṣọ́ọ̀bù náà padà sí àtùpà onílọ́wọ̀ọ́rọ̀ ní alẹ́.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Urban Banyan Àgbékalẹ̀ Inú Ilé fún Kafé Búrẹ́dì jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Urban Banyan Àgbékalẹ̀ Inú Ilé fún Kafé Búrẹ́dì yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Urban Banyan Àgbékalẹ̀ Inú Ilé fún Kafé Búrẹ́dì ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.
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
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