The initial concept for this project was inspired by something I observed. In Hanoi, there are many restaurants modeled after Japanese izakayas, but few—if any—truly capture the spirit and soul of the izakaya style. Therefore, the main goal of this project was to be able to grasp not only the essence of what is an izakaya but also capture the soul of Japanese street food.
The design of the project draws inspiration from various aspects of Tokyo. The garden is designed in the style of a Zen garden, the design takes direct inspiration from the streets of Tokyo, with houses stacked chaotically on top of each other, dark alleys that open up into spacious courtyards once entered, and trains cutting through the neighborhoods, the three main dining areas are inspired by ramen shops and japanese bars, featuring an open kitchen and soft lighting with a full glass wall expands the space and attracts the attention of people looking in from outside.
The building is mostly clad with stone and various types of material to mimic the chaos of Tokyo's streets and alleys.