Project Team

design: JNP Architecture

suppliers
furniture: MOO Design
lighting: MOO Design

 

Suppliers

Furniture: MOO Design
Lighting: MOO Design

The brief for Sushia was to design a new restaurant to offer a fine dining experience incorporating ‘Sushi train’ and ‘Tepanyaki’ facilities into the design.

JNP Architecture thought it was important to create a space that would reflect Sushia’s professional integrity in Japanese dining; their kitchen floor plans are sought out from chefs in Japan, head chef has received prestige training from Japan and their detailed efforts in the selection of their wine and sake list.

The restaurant space that they envisioned was one that would embrace the exciting challenge between traditional and contemporary Japanese food and of the transparency of how the foods are made- on site, all this without compromising on functionality.

There were challenges to overcome such as to design the various curve forms within the limited ceiling space where there were chaotic pipe systems running through. There was a need to harmonize the design to the existing systems so as not to create more chaos. There was a risk of the overall look to be complicated, JNP Architecture wanted to prevent this, hence used simple and bold curves and went for raw and matt finishes such as concrete, stone and timber.

The long narrow space allows for the space to make a gradual transition from casual dining at front to offer more private and formal dining area at the deepest end. Also a long sushi train could be installed and enhance the Sushi train dining experience and allow room for fine dining at the back.

Some of the constraints that JNP Architecture had to overcome would have to be the pipe works spread out in the ceiling; they were not able to advantage the high ceiling of 4,135 mm and was lowered down to 3,100 mm, ultimately they were limited to 1,000mm of ceiling space to produce curves.

The result is a design with a main ceiling and wall feature that embraces the whole space like a canopy inside a deep forest.

The feature is driven by waves of seductive curves. A series of suspended curved fins embrace the space within and hide the unevenly distributed ductworks and pipes. The waves provide a very modern feel and are a contrast with the traditional dark oak floors and wood tables which spatially reflects Sushia’s modern Japanese cuisine. The soft lighting and some places being less lit than others aid to enhance the intimate atmosphere.