ukiyo
completed
march 2021
responsibilities
interior design & graphic design
programme
10 seats restaurant
location
osaka, jp
completed
march 2021
responsibilities
interior design & graphic design
programme
10 seats restaurant
location
osaka, jp
On a raised platform of Japanese zelkova hardwood – framed within a matching, crafted wooden rectangle suspended from the ceiling – are just 10 seats. The bottom of the frame forms a dining table – as guests enjoy a framed view of the city of Osaka and Ukiyo’s sushi chef creating culinary masterpieces at a stainless steel counter, elevating this dining experience into a work of art.
The wooden frame contrasts beautifully with the grey marble floors, and the chrome ball-chain curtains – an abstraction of water drops. Expanding on the theme of Osaka’s (and sushi’s) relationship with water is the bespoke textile art by Lok Jansen, a Dutch artist living in Japan.
graphic design
Concrete was responsible for the name, concept, graphic identity and interior design for Ukiyo.
The name Ukiyo is inspired by the and the great wave of Kanagawa and the floating underwater-world.
The logo is created by building the letters ‘ukiyo sushi’ with an abstraction of waves. The waves are repeated in a pattern, that also refers to the scales of fish. The Chromolux Silver paper chosen for the graphic identity is also a derivative of the reflective skin of fish and water. The menu, business cards, invitations and all other stationary have a serrated wavy edge.
facts & figures
seats 10
concrete
responsibilities interior and graphic design
team rob wagemans, bart de beer, julia hundermark, sofie ruytenberg, cathelijne vreugdenhil, femke zumbrink, marlou spierts, sylvie meuffels, rene kroondijk, erik van dillen
partners & collaborators
client sekisui house, jp
architecture nikken sekkei, jp
operator marriott, us
executive interior designer nikken space design, jp
photogapher marriott, us
artwork lok jansen
press
"with interiors reflecting the concept of ‘Ukiyoe’, or a floating world, as a metaphor for Osaka, a city of waterways"
