Hong Kong-specific Japanese Restaurant
Japanese restaurants are everywhere in Hong Kong. How can interior design add value to the dining experience for customers?
The second branch of KOME KUSHI, a modern Japanese restaurant under The Hooman Group lands in Island West of Hong Kong. Collaborated with local design studio Hintegro, the restaurant design is a mix of traditional Japanese-styled materials, also efforts and creativities of Hong Kong local carpenter and product designer, all in all making it a restaurant that you will only find in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Elegance & Tokyo Impression: Ginza-inspired Glass Bricks & Japanese Materials
The use of the glamourous glass brick is one of the material highlights in the restaurant design, representing the dual signifiers in both Japanese and Hong Kong-styled architecture. The Hermes store shined in Ginza, Tokyo is a design by internationally renowned designer Renzo Piano, using a full-story of glass bricks; while in Hong Kong, glass brick is one of the most commonly seen materials in architecture in the 80s. Glass bricks represents local elegance and nostalgia in both places, making it the best to be applied in a Japanese restaurant in Hong Kong.
When night is falling, KOME KUSHI is lit up to share a sense of warmth and poetic to the Sai Ying Pun community.
On the wall, you will find Naguri – a traditional Japanese wood craft, as well as Shikui and Lavastone tiles. A mix of different textures contrasted with the glass bricks in cold colors. The restaurant is a visual delicacy with layers of visual and sensational pleasure.
100% Made In Hong Kong by Young Craftmen: “Blessing Tiles” & Locally Made Wooden Furniture.
Hintegro continues to apply local young craftmen’s work in interiors project, in hope to support local artisanship.
Right at the entrance of the restaurant, Hintegro commissioned Niko Leung of “Hong Kong Soil” for a set of upcycled tiles made by soil in Sai Kung, imitating the traditional Japanese Garden design “瓦 埋め込み”. This design trick means by embedding tiles into the soil flooring, as a means to prevent the soil going loose. It also means “blessing” and “happiness” in Japanese culture. This is the first time the tiles being applied in an interior design project. With this 100% made in Hong Kong, belongs to Hong Kong “blessing tiles”, KOME KUSHI welcomes each customer with their biggest luck.
On top, Hintegro commissioned local female carpenter Yan Yung from Coutou Wood Working to complete the stools and chairs for KOME KUSHI. To help sustain the local craftsmen community, Hintegro believes that creating stages for the craftsmen to showcase is crucial. In this case in KOME KUSHI, customers will be able to experience furniture that is made in Hong Kong, with the introduction by the staff. Every back of the bench is sealed with the restaurant’s name and “Made in Hong Kong” marks, this exclusive details are the design touch that customer could see and touch.
