Ishidaya Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Indawo Yokudlela YamaJaphane by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Ishidaya Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Indawo Yokudlela YamaJaphane by Atsushi Kawaguchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ingaphakathi Competition Category.

IbhulonziIngaphakathi· 2026

Ishidaya Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Indawo Yokudlela YamaJaphane

by Atsushi Kawaguchi

Client: Ishidaya

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

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The Design

About Ishidaya Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Indawo Yokudlela YamaJaphane

Umbhalo Wencwadi: I-Ishidaya iyindawo yokudlela yamaJaphane esesifundeni esimaphakathi seHanoi. Le phrojekthi isebenzisa i-Taisho Roman, inkathi lapho amasiko amaJaphane naseNtshonalanga axhumana khona, njengesakhelo sayo, ehlanganisa phakathi kobuhle bamaJaphane nesimo saseNtshonalanga sesakhiwo. Isakhelo sokhuni esingaphezu kwekhawunta sihlanganisa ukwakha kwendabuko negeometry ye-Art Deco futhi senza njengento ebalulekile ebonakalayo. Kunokuba kube ukuhlobisa, sibumba ukubona ngokukhanya nemibono eshintshayo. Umphumela yindawo ezothile ehlanganisa izinkomba zamasiko ngezingqimba futhi enikeza ukuhumusha okucacile kokudla kwesimanjemanje eHanoi.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award

Ishidaya Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Indawo Yokudlela YamaJaphane 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. Ishidaya Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Indawo Yokudlela YamaJaphane 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. Ishidaya Umsebenzi Oyinhloko: Indawo Yokudlela YamaJaphane 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: This design is a spatial centerpiece that quietly responds to people rather than technology. Its form never moves, yet it feels different from every position, shaped by light, shadow, and human presence. Unlike decorative elements that are simply observed, this design creates a subtle dialogue with its surroundings, offering depth, calm, and a lasting sense of place through simplicity and restraint.
Dimensions & Packaging: Renovation of existing buildings
Tags: Timeless atmosphere, Changing perception, Sense of depth, Quiet interaction
Production Technology: The design process began not with form, but with experience. We first observed how people move, pause, and look within the space. Instead of adding complexity, simple elements were repeated and layered so perception changes as people move. The design does not rely on mechanisms or instructions; human presence itself creates variation. This approach results in a calm, durable, and lasting spatial experience.
Design Challenge: In designing ISHIDAYA we faced challenges from both cultural context and practical limits. The building showed Western decorative traces while the space required a Japanese aesthetic. To connect these influences we adopted the idea of Taisho Roman, a period when East and West blended naturally. This concept guided choices in materials colors light and space. Through close work with craftsmen and repeated testing the design was refined into a space that respects cultural roots and feels natural to use.
Research: For ISHIDAYA the research began by understanding the building and its use. The structure showed traces of Western decoration, while the design required a Japanese sensibility. To connect these elements we studied moments in history when East and West blended naturally. This led to Taisho Roman, which guided choices in materials colors and mood, creating a space that feels unified clear and suited to present day Hanoi.
Inspiration: ISHIDAYA is a Japanese restaurant located in the center of Hanoi. Inspired by Taisho Roman, a period when Japanese and Western cultures intersected, the design harmonizes Japanese aesthetics with the building’s original Western character. A sculptural wooden framework above the counter combines traditional Japanese construction with Art Deco geometry, creating a refined space where dining, drinking, and cultural storytelling come together in contemporary Hanoi.
Project Duration: The project started in August 2024 in Hanoi and finished in April 2025.
Operation Flow: Hanged wood frame is not something you press or control.
It responds simply to people being there. As you walk, sit, or look up, its shape feels different. From one angle it looks calm, from another it feels complex, and from below it seems to float.
Nothing actually moves, but your position changes how it appears. Light and shadow shift naturally, creating a quiet interaction. Because it relies on people, not machines, it stays simple, stable, and always engaging.
Image Credits: All photos / HIROYUKI OKI