Hasta La Ideas

Japanese studio Design Spirits refurbished this cafe at a ski resort in Hokkaido by inserting timber lattice partitions.

The Niseko Look Out Cafe features rows of lattice-work booths and slatted timber false ceilings.

See also: Beijing Noodle No. 9 by Design Spirits

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Here are some more details from the designers:

Niseko Look out Café
Hokkaido, Japan

Somewhere near to top of the mountain in Niseko on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, there is this Look out Cafe for skiers to have a short break and lunch. The restaurant opens only during the snow season, December through April daily. This restaurant is owned by a hotel management & railway company. It was originally built of wood since 28 years ago, and now this is the first time of renovation.

On 04 October 2010, I was called to YTL Group headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, out of a sudden, I was informed about the restaurant renovation in Niseko. Initially, the restaurant owner hopes the restaurant opening in early December.

After a few meeting going on and also conference call to the project manager in Hokkaido, I was requested to complete the project before mid-November due to snowfall begins during that period. Counting from the day of the meeting to mid-November, it was approximately 45 days left.

It took 4 days to determine the overall design and materials, and got approval from the project manager on the fifth day. At the same time, we prepared drawings and visited the site in Hokkaido. After some comparisons and discussion going on, we have selected a suitable contractor to work together. Thereafter, constructions progress is immediately proceed.

Look out Café is located on the top of the mountain, and it is impossible to reach it by a car or ski-lifts during the off-season. Therefore, there are many times, myself and constructors were walking, hiking, and climbing over another slope to get down from the site. While, materials are carried by Caterpillar vehicle with a carrier attached to it.

In the meantime, construction workers had to climb up and down the mountain on foot if the carrier is fully-occupied with materials. Also there was situation when it rains, we were prohibited to climb the mountain as there is possibility of land sliding.

In Japan, seasons of autumn and winter, daytime is shorter than nighttime whereas sunset begins at 4 in the evening in despite of sunny day or cloudy day. In addition, strong winds also come as a result of frigid condition. This forced us to leave the site before sunset to avoid any unfortunate consequence. Resulted, construction progress unable to proceed as scheduled.

However, the progress of construction is always depends on the changes of situation. Fortunately, it is a warm winter this year as snowfall comes late, and construction can be carried out until late of November.

The project is completed by early December, with the grand opening of Look out Café.

Although there are many constraints during the progress, the outcome is very satisfying and impressive. Not to mentioned about the tight deadline and managing the construction workers, limitation in using only three types of materials- woods, paint, and wallpaper – are also a challenge.

Currently, most of the tourists are mainly from China, Singapore, and Australia, and Japan is less than 10%.

We used vertical timber lattice as the main material, which is known to represent Japanese identity. So, now, the tourists can feel the exotic Japan when they are walking along the alleyway, as the reflections from the roofs come in different sizes and heights.

Illumination effect is created as the lights from roof came through the lattice. And the feeling of warmth and secure are all around the space as it is surrounded by roofs with various sizes and heights. The feeling is more obvious especially when the space is crowded.

It was attempt to create an ambience whereas can feel the outside world atmosphere in an interior space.

Project name: Niseko Village Look out Café

Type of project: Renovation

Location : Niseko Village Top of mountain, Abuta-gun, Niseko-cho, Hokkaido 048-1592, Japan

Completion date: 30th / November / 2010

Opening date: 1st / December / 2010

Construction period: Mid of October / 2010 – End of November / 2010

Client : YTL Hotels

Design firm: design spirits co. , ltd.

Interior design: design spirits co.,ltd. Yuhkichi Kawai

Construction: NOMURA co., ltd.

Lighting consultant: muse-D Inc. Kazuhiko Suzuki, Misuzu Yagi

Photographer: Toshide Kajiwara

Floor area: 172 sq.mt. (1852 sq.ft.)

Management: Hilton Niseko Village ( Hilton Hotels & Resorts)

Number of staff: 6 staffs

Seating capacity: 80 seat

Estimated budget: 1000 JPY

3. Technical sheet

Floor
Existing floor material.

Ceiling
Existing ceiling to be painted in black, 30% gloss.

Roof
Spruce louver to be clear lacquer finished, 50% gloss.

Wall
Timber plate louver with black painted 30% gloss, to be fixed on existing wall.

Column, above roof level
Existing column to be painted in black, 30% gloss.

Column, below roof level
Existing column to be painted in spruce timber color, 30% gloss.
Steel square pipe with spruce timber color powder coated, 30% gloss.

Toilet floor
Existing floor material.

Toilet ceiling
Stamping paint on existing wall.

Toilet wall
Stamping paint on existing wall.

See also:

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Twister by Makhno and Butenko	Tang Palace by FCJZ	Cocoro by Gascoigne Associates

A woven net of bamboo creates a curved suspended ceiling inside this restaurant in Hangzhou, China by architects FCJZ.

The internal spaces of Tang Palace are defined by linear bamboo screens and the central concrete core is wrapped in back-lit bamboo sheets, creating a light-box effect.

Private rooms are located on the upper levels, suspended above and visible through the restaurant ceiling.

Photographs are by Shu He.

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The following information is from the architects:

Tang Palace, Hangzhou

The restaurant is located on the top floor of a superstore in the new town area of Hangzhou, with 9-meter high story height and a broad view to the south. Composite bamboo boards are selected as the main material, conveying the design theme of combining tradition and modernity.

In the hall, to take advantage of the story height, some of the private rooms are suspended from the roof and creating an interactive atmosphere between the upper and lower levels, thus enriching the visual enjoyments.

The original building condition has a core column and several semi-oval blocks which essentially disorganised the space. Hence, our design wants to reshape the space with a large hollowed-out ceiling which is made from interweaved thin bamboo boards; and extending from the wall to the ceiling.

The waved ceiling creates a dramatic visual expression within the hall. The hollowed-out bamboo net maintains the original story height and thereby creates an interactive relation between the levels. We also wrapped the core column with light-transmitting bamboo boards to form a light-box, which transforms the previously heavy concrete block into a light and lively focus object.

The entrance hall also follows the theme of bamboo. The wall is covered with bamboo material which follows the original outline of the wall, turning it into a wavy surface. In this way, the surface echoes the hall ceiling as well as performs a guiding function for customers.

The design of private rooms embraces different characteristics. The rooms on the first level are relatively bigger and share the features of expanded bamboo net from the wall to ceiling and ornamentally engraved wall surfaces. Meanwhile, the different folding angles and engraved patterns make each room different from one another. The rooms above on the south are smaller and feature a special waved ceiling pattern and simple bamboo wall surface, which creates interesting and spacious room features.

The key design concept of the space is that the suspended rooms are connected with suspended bridges and sideway aisles. The semi-transparent wall provides a subtle relationship between the inner and outer spaces, bestowing people with a special spatial experience.

In this design, we hope to create diversified and yet an interrelated interior spaces through the different usages of the new bamboo material, responding to the local culture while seeking intriguing spatial effects.

Project: Tang Palace, Hangzhou, China
Location: 6th Floor of MixC, No. 701, Fuchun Road, Jianggan District, Hangzhou, China
Client: HongKong Tang Palace Food&Beverage Group Co., LTD.
Area: 2460 ㎡
Materials: Bamboo, Composite Panel, Rubbed Concrete

Designer: Atelier Feichang Jianzhu
Principal Designer: Chang Yung Ho
Project Architect: Lin Yihsuan
Design Team: Yu Yue, Wu Xia, Suiming Wang
Construction Period: February 2010 – July 2010
General Contractor: Shenzhen C.S.C. Decoration Design Engineering CO., LTD Beijing Branch
Finish material: Wall – bamboo(1f), marble(2f)/ Flooring – terrazzo(1f), carpet(2f) / Ceiling – bamboo net(1f), painting(2f)

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Rosa’s by Gundry & Ducker	Tori Tori Restaurant by Rojkind & Hector Esrawe	Cocoro by Gascoigne Associates

London studio Found Associates have completed this restaurant with an oak and concrete interior in west London.

Called Nottingdale Cafe, the project involved adding a mezzanine level and creating a 10 meter-long bar clad in porcelain panels.

Blackboard paint applied directly to the walls provides a surface for wine lists and specials.

See also: The Lollipop Shoppe by Found Associates

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The following information is from the designers:

Found Associates were appointed to devise a new restaurant concept for the Nottingdale Village development in West London, opposite the Westfield Shopping Centre. Following their successful implementation of TalkTalk’s new head office, the restaurant is the second building Found have been appointed to work on within this development (by award winning architects AHMM).

The philosophy behind the restaurant is to serve the best ingredients in an unpretentious manner, while offering a relaxed but stimulating environment for the customer. Although the restaurant offers food throughout the day there are two separate dining experiences; the lunch offer being an inexpensive frequently changing menu aimed at staff in the adjacent offices, whilst the dinner offer provides more refined a la carte menu aimed to set the establishment as an occasional venue. The existing building’s wedge shaped plan, multi facetted front elevation and pitched rear elevation presented a challenging space to provide a cohesive interior concept.

Found have reinterpreted the internal form of the building, adding a new cantilevered mezzanine with glazed balustrade, to create a dynamic series of linear single and double height spaces that rationalises the limited internal volume and reacts against the buildings angular plan form and external elevations.

The dining area is spread over the ground floor and mezzanine, at the restaurants heart is a bespoke ten-metre long porcelain clad counter that runs almost the entire length of the ground floor. The counter is the focus of the ground floor dining experience, with diners seated on high stools while opposite them chefs prepare food in the open kitchen.

Porcelain was selected for the counter not only for the unique quality of the finished material but also as a reference to the history of the site, which was for many years a centre for the Kensington Potteries. Each porcelain panel to the front, side and top of the counter has been created using bespoke moulds that have been formed, fired and glazed by a specialist supplier.

The fair faced concrete structure of the building provided a basis from which a complementary palette of materials were carefully selected.

The aim was to retain as much of the existing structure as possible whilst offsetting the harder elements with natural materials.

Much of the ground floor walls have received blackboard paint to enable the menu, specials and wine lists to be added/updated on a daily basis in multiple locations within the restaurant.

Solid oak with a natural finish was selected for the main floors and stairs to provide a warm contrast to the concrete and black walls.

The chairs and tables are also solid oak and by specialist suppliers, the bar stools were ordered as soon as the design was brought out of prototype.

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26 Lounge Bar by Cor	Federal Café by Barbara Appolloni	Hatched by Outofstock

New Zealand architects Gascoigne Associates have completed this Japanese restaurant lined with wooden slats in Auckland, New Zealand.

Called Cocoro (meaning ‘heart and soul’ in Japanese), the restaurant is located in a former warehouse.

Wooden slats hang over the exposed concrete walls and ceiling, with LED lighting and sound insulation concealed between them.

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Photographs are by Patrick Reynolds.

The information below is from Gascoigne Associates:

Cocoro Restaurant

Cocoro is located in an old industrial warehouse in Brown Street, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand

Cocoro means ‘heart and soul’ in Japanese. The restaurant can be classed as modern Japanese and offers a degustation style menu including Japanese style tapas.

The intimate décor includes large squares of woven charcoal and chocolate carpet, reminiscent of subtle tatami-style matting. This subtle checkerboard pattern is also found back in Cocoro’s menus.Clark Pritchard had the pleasure of working with the owners on the interior of the restaurant to create an environment that is natural, modern and comfortable. All of the selected materials are recyclable and the contemporary space is suitable for both lunch and dinner and compliments the tapas style menu with its simplicity.

Circular graphics, found back in the restaurant’s logo, have been printed on the up-lit black walls and the large six metre long Macrocarpa dining table in the middle of the room has been cut from a single tree and invites guests to dine side by side. The ceilings are sandblasted exposed concrete, lined with Macrocarpa batons integrating LED downlights and sound studio foam for acoustics.

Battens hang against the raw exposed concrete ceiling and above the lines of banquet seating on each sidewall and the communal table in the centre, subtly hiding LED downlights which place the focus on the food.

The rectangular slot window in the back wall allows diners to see into the quiet and efficient kitchen.

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Suzukake Honten by Case-Real	Rosa’s by Gundry & Ducker	Viet Hoa Cafe by Vonsung

Spanish studio Cor have completed this Alicante bar with floors and walls clad in wood.

The upper half of the walls and ceiling are white, imprinted with rows of black dots.

The bar lines one side of the space and seating is on the opposite side.

Photographs are by David Frutos.

Also by Cor: Funeral Home and Garden in Pinoso.

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Here’s some more information from Cor:

26 Lounge Bar

The Portal de Elche has been a very popular meeting place in Alicante for centuries, situated at the corner of the Rambla and the Esplanade of Spain the two most important streets of the city. It was an urban space emerged on the occasion of the demolition of the walls that gripped the city.

In this place, was placed the Tower of San Bartolomé and beside it a door that had several names: Portal de Murcia, Portal de Orihuela and, of course, Portal de Elche. At present, it is possibly one of the busiest places in the city center. The proposal of our team was to create a ‘commercial and emotional window’: a place where looking and being looked beneath the huge ficus on the ‘portal’, which would generate a stable emotional link that made customers come back.

‘From inside you look outside.’ An ancient interior wounded by multiple reforms, from a tavern to a shoe store, through a thousand different businesses from s. XIX brought out an uneven volume. Given this situation we propose the construction of a ‘controlled interior volume’ able to suit lighting, temperature and acoustic sensation.

Built with two faced ’u’s: one made of industrial timber that fits on the floor, at the bar and forms the bench going up to 1.8 m height, and another punched ’u’ completely white, descending from the ceiling where all facilities (air conditioning and sound) are accommodated. These ‘u’ are crossed in a weightless way by two adjustable light sets that bathe the room from its center, and try to emphasize and define the interior space, letting perceive ‘a box within a very old local’.

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A phenomenological project. The states of light are very important due to temporary uses and change on supplies depending on the time of day. Say it is not an area that changes depending on the time, but rather different premises, where different scenarios are set, almost like a stage. Ground lighting takes all its power at night, diminishing its intensity wallwashers and the two great lamps, getting a room similar to the bistros of W. Allen.

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In contrast, in the morning are the two great lamps that catch the spotlight, making appear clearly defined spatial boundaries, something that reminds the photography of Slawomir Idziak.

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Project Outline

Architecture : COR Consulting of Creative Resources
Client: Private
Location: Alicante, Spain
Principal Use : Cafe, lounge and bar
Floor Area: 110 square meters
Budget: 91.050 €

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D’espresso by Nemaworkshop	Switch Restaurant by Karim Rashid	Barrio North by Anarchitect