303 Shirahama Italian Restaurant | Ekphrastics
303 Shirahama Italian Restaurant by Ryohei Kanda

303 Shirahama Italian Restaurant

Bronze A' Design Award Winner 2025

Deep cobalt blue saturates the left third of this restaurant interior composition, establishing a dramatic chromatic field that anchors the spatial experience through bold color blocking, while warm amber and brass-toned luminaires punctuate the darkness above with spherical and hemispherical forms suspended from a geometric ceiling grid painted matte black, creating a starfield effect of controlled incandescence that governs the atmospheric character of the dining environment, the composition employs a classical one-point perspective with the vanishing point receding toward the illuminated service counter visible in the deep middle ground, framed by a generous archway finished in warm neutral plaster or stucco that provides chromatic respite between the cool blue foreground volume and the brighter kitchen zone beyond, establishing a spatial narrative of procession from intimate dining enclosure toward the theatrical revelation of culinary preparation, the foreground features a systematic arrangement of blond timber dining tables with black metal bases positioned in regular rhythm across medium-gray terrazzo or concrete flooring, each table accompanied by black bentwood chairs with curved wishbone backs suggesting mid-century Scandinavian design heritage, specifically evoking the formal vocabulary established by Danish modernist furniture typologies, the chairs' distinctive Y-shaped backrests create a repeating visual motif that generates secondary rhythm across the horizontal plane, their dark silhouettes providing tonal contrast against both the pale tabletops and the saturated blue wall field, the blue surface itself exhibits a subtle textural quality suggesting either Venetian plaster application or finely textured paint with slight undulation that catches and diffuses light rather than reflecting it specularly, contributing to the wall's immersive chromatic presence, the ceiling structure reveals an exposed industrial aesthetic with visible black-painted beams arranged in a regular rectangular grid that organizes the overhead plane into modular bays, from which the bespoke lighting installation descends at varied heights, the luminaires themselves comprise circular metal frames in brushed brass or bronze finish containing frosted or translucent diffuser discs that emit soft warm light approximating 2700-3000K color temperature, their suspended arrangement at multiple elevations creates layered spatial depth overhead and establishes intimate pools of illumination at table height while maintaining overall ambient darkness that heightens the drama of individual light sources, the left wall incorporates tall vertical glazing panels allowing natural or exterior artificial light to penetrate the blue volume, though the glass appears dark or reflective in the captured moment, suggesting either nighttime conditions or tinted glazing, the deep middle ground transitions through the archway into a markedly different spatial character defined by neutral warm gray walls, recessed downlighting creating even illumination, and the service counter finished with small-scale mosaic tilework in variegated blue tonalities that establish material and chromatic continuity with the foreground dining zone while serving functional requirements of a food preparation and service area, a single sculptural stemware element in amber glass stands prominently on the counter, echoing the warm metallic tones of the suspended luminaires and providing a vertical accent that draws the eye through the perspectival recession, the right side of the composition features translucent corrugated or ribbed paneling in pale neutral tone, likely polycarbonate or resin-based material that diffuses light while maintaining privacy, this translucent screen creates a dematerialized boundary that suggests spatial division without solid opacity, its vertical ribbing generating delicate linear texture and subtle light refraction that produces horizontal banding effects across its surface, the overall compositional structure demonstrates sophisticated control of spatial layering through distinct zones of color, light, and material that guide movement and establish experiential sequence from entry through dining to service counter revelation, the color palette restricts itself to a disciplined chromatic range of deep ultramarine or cobalt blue, warm neutrals approaching buff or greige, natural timber blonde approaching pale oak or ash, matte black providing graphic definition, and warm metallic brass or bronze accents, this limited palette achieves maximum spatial impact through saturation and contrast rather than chromatic variety, the lighting strategy layers multiple illumination modes including the dramatic suspended sculptural fixtures providing warm ambient pools, recessed architectural lighting in the service zone offering functional task illumination, and the implied natural light sources from left glazing creating temporal variation, the perspectival construction creates strong visual pull toward the illuminated archway and service counter, establishing clear spatial hierarchy and programmatic legibility that communicates restaurant function and circulation logic, the exposed ceiling grid and industrial aesthetic vocabulary suggest adaptive reuse of existing structure or deliberate reference to warehouse or industrial building typologies, lending authenticity and material honesty to the spatial character, the floor plane's neutral gray provides tonal foundation that allows both the saturated blue wall and the pale furniture to register with maximum clarity, while the terrazzo or polished concrete material selection communicates durability appropriate to commercial hospitality environments, the repetitive furniture arrangement establishes orthogonal order and geometric clarity that contrasts with the more organic suspended lighting composition overhead, creating dynamic tension between rational planning below and expressive illumination above, the translucent screening at right suggests adjacency to exterior conditions or service zones requiring visual separation while maintaining spatial connectivity and light transmission, the overall composition demonstrates interior architectural sophistication in its layered spatial construction, disciplined material and chromatic palette, integration of custom lighting as defining experiential element, and careful calibration of intimate scale in the foreground dining zone against the theatrical revelation of the service counter beyond, Ryohei Kanda's restaurant interior achieves memorable spatial identity through bold color deployment, thoughtful lighting choreography, and refined modernist furniture selection that together create an atmosphere of contemporary sophistication tempered by warm materiality and human-scaled intimacy.

The polycarbonate partitions that make up the dining area reflect the view of the ocean in front of the site, while at the same time refracting the light. Pendants and bracket lights are placed on top of the partitions to reflect the light. The partitions reflect the incoming sunlight and change their expression over time. The designer aimed to create an immersive space that sublimates the elements of Shirahama by light, while incorporating a view seamlessly connected to the outside.