Sumibi Kappō in Japan refers to a culinary style that employs charcoal-fire techniques to prepare ingredients. Chefs select different cooking methods—such as searing, grilling, warming, or smoking—according to the type of ingredient.
We eschew traditional Japanese ornamentation and instead take the distinctive charcoal-fire cooking vibe as our spatial concept. We create restaurant interior by harmonizing materials, color, and lighting.
The restaurant façade evolves from 1-metre-deep recess in the wall carved from rectangular volume. The non-parallel surfaces enrich the façade’s sculptural form; unadorned lines generate a playful visual effect, meanwhile, the recessed volume attract pedestrians’ attention deep into the restaurant.
The façade is finished with rough, rustic rammed earth paint; and the characteristic of Japanese restaurant is embellished by washi lightboxes, fabric hanging curtains, and grille doors.
The checkout counter upon entering the restaurant serves as a transitional zone from “outside” to “inside,” allowing the entire space to maintain a consistent, understated natural aesthetic throughout.
Stretching 30 meters in depth, the long, narrow interior unfolds along a central axis that flanks the counter bar on one side and the open dining area on the other.
The counter bar is 9 meters long and can seat 13 people at a time. Devoid of a central chandelier, the restaurant is lit by washi lightboxes recessed into the counter’s wall and the overhead beams. These fixtures serve both to illuminate and to adorn, their gentle glow and crafted texture weaving a soft, tactile atmosphere that deepens the space’s emotional resonance.
The restaurant emphasizes the properties and aesthetics of the raw materials themselves, we use stone, rammed earth, and untreated timber and other natural and rustic materials to embody the plain vibe.
As the path deepens, a hushed, dim corridor ushers guests toward the private rooms area.
The private rooms are wrapped in subtly textured artistic wallcovering, complemented by sculptural lighting and floral accents to create an even more secluded and intimate dining environment.