Blarney Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Ingaphakathi Le-Irish Pub Ne-Cafe by Tetsuya Matsumoto

Blarney Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Ingaphakathi Le-Irish Pub Ne-Cafe by Tetsuya Matsumoto is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ingaphakathi Competition Category.

IbhulonziIngaphakathi· 2025

Blarney Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Ingaphakathi Le-Irish Pub Ne-Cafe

by Tetsuya Matsumoto

Client: The Blarney Stone

Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award Winner in Ingaphakathi Category

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The Design

About Blarney Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Ingaphakathi Le-Irish Pub Ne-Cafe

Umbhalo Wencwadi: I-Blarney iwuklamo lwangaphakathi lwe-Irish pub ne-cafe eOsaka, eJapane. Le ndawo isebenzela amakhasimende kusukela ekuseni kakhulu kuze kube sebusuku obuphakeme. Ikhabethe elingemuva kwekhawunta lisebenzisa iminyango ephenduka eguquguqukayo phakathi kwamashalofu ezitshwala namashalofu ezinsiza ze-cafe. Umhlobiso wendabuko osindayo uvalwe ngobuciko obunombala owodwa obudwetshwe ngokuqondile ezindongeni, obukhombisa izici zamasiko ase-Ireland nokutolikwa kwamaphosta adumile. Wonke amatafula anobude obufana nekhawunta yebha ukuze ahambisane nendawo encane. Isamba sesizinda somhlaba silinganiselwa kuma-70.78 amamitha ahlangothini amane.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award

Blarney Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Ingaphakathi Le-Irish Pub Ne-Cafe iwinile uMklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile kakhulu okunikezwa imiklamo ephawulekayo eyehlukaniswa ukudala, ubuhlakani nobukhali bengqondo. Abawinile beBhulonzi yimisebenzi enobuchule obukhulu nedala ngokumangalisayo eqinisekisa isipiliyoni esibanzi, umcabango nobuhlakani babaklami babo. Blarney Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Ingaphakathi Le-Irish Pub Ne-Cafe ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo, enobungcweti obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu ebuciko, esayensi, ekuklameni nasebuchwepheshe futhi uhamba phambili ngenxa yokunaka kwawo imininingwane. Blarney Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Ingaphakathi Le-Irish Pub Ne-Cafe iyanelisa izidingo ngokumangalisayo, ithinta izifiso, iheha imizwa futhi ikhanga ukufuna ukwazi.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: For its third location as an Irish pub in Osaka, Blarney had to shift its business model to be able to serves customers from early morning to late night. To allow this transition the counter back cabinet uses a system of swinging doors altering between alcoholic beverages and cafe utensils shelves. Compared to a traditional Irish pub the heavy decoration was scraped out and replaced by monochrome art painted directly on the walls of the pub, and representing Irish culture and iconic posters.
Dimensions & Packaging: Gross Built Area: 70.78sqm
W12085mm x D7050mm x H2800mm
Tags: Japan, Osaka, Irish, Pub, Cafe, Flexible, interior, hospitality, bar, art
Production Technology: The walls are made using drywall techniques. They were then divided into three sections. A lower one is finished with cement based material. The middle part is finished in covering sheet with a rusted metal motif. And the upper part is finished in the same grey wall cloth as the ceiling. An indirect light line separates the wall parts. The art was painted directly on the top of the rust metal sheet.
Design Challenge: The middle ground between heavily decorated Irish pub and soft and relaxing atmosphere of a cafe can hardly be determined. Two strategies were adopted. The first is to design a counter back cabinet that showcases both alcoholic beverages and cafe utensils by creating pivoting doors. The second is to abstain from using any kind of traditional decoration and replace it with wall painting inspired by Irish culture elements and iconic posters interpretations.
Research: The project had to deal with a prominent dilemma that is related to its situation. The facility has strict rules that force the shop to open and provide services from early morning to late night. An Irish pub working hours is essentially in the afternoon and evening time, thus the need to convert the space to provide cafe services as well. The research consisted of balancing two different aesthetics of heavy Irish pubs and soft atmosphere of a cafe without loosing function of one or the other.
Inspiration: The bar and cafe cabinet are inspired by traditional furniture and black board signage. And added a twist by allowing them to pivot between the two, uncovering one or the other every time. The art on the wall refers to Irish cultural elements including the Blarney castle, the four leaf clove, the harp and some traditional motifs. The art also interprets some iconic posters for Irish whiskey and Guinness beer.
Project Duration: Project start: June 2023.
Construction starts: April 2024.
Project/Construction End: July 2024.

Location:
Osaka, Japan.
Operation Flow: The shop has an almost trapezoidal shape with two sides open to the corridor shared with all the other restaurants. The closed kitchen is set to be in the corner with two walls. It extends with the counter space along the large wall and ends with the coffee machine space that is placed specifically to serve morning commuters. To avoid awkward positions in the narrow space all tables in the hall are set to the same height as the bar counter.
Team Members: Tetsuya Matsumoto
Image Credits: Image #1: photographer ©Senichiro Nogami, Blarney, 2024.
Image #2: photographer ©Senichiro Nogami, Blarney, 2024.
Image #3: photographer ©Senichiro Nogami, Blarney, 2024.
Image #4: photographer ©Senichiro Nogami, Blarney, 2024.
Image #5: photographer ©Senichiro Nogami, Blarney, 2024.