“a” restaurant sits within the second-floor of a shopping mall. Its entrance reflects the heritage of Japanese ceremonies and the experience of discovery, where guests disengage from the chaotic city streets and become immersed in a multi-sensory experience.
A curving wall directs guests to the door located at the end of an elongated vestibule. This curving wall is adjoined by a straight perpendicular wall that was melded together to reflect the convergence of a Neo-Classical colonnade and Japanese-inspired concrete.
At waist level, an aquamarine panel of varying textures harmonises the dichotomy between hot and cold, spicy and sweet, salty and sour, to reflect the restaurant’s cuisine itself.
“a” is dressed in monochromatic shades of light warm grey and aquamarine green, accented by aluminium-coated tables and earthy-wood chairs that draw its inspiration from modern Japanese architecture and aesthetics. The copper patina and wood of the dining chairs endow the space with accents of colour, while the terrazzo grey floor introduces a sprinkle of green reminiscent of European materiality, with a nod to local Israeli heritage.
The entire western-directing wall of “a” is ensnared in glass to allow natural light to illuminate the space at dusk, and to connect the diners to the city itself at night.
The end of the architectural view culminates in the sake library at the far end of the restaurant. The sake library is constructed with brushed aluminium, which defines the end of the space and functions as the backdrop of the restaurant’s central bar.
The design utilises a modern approach to classic light fixtures to govern each dining area. The chandelier above the bar is made of TK aluminium thin pipes and small led lights, while the rest of the spaces are washed with indirect natural light from the floor to ceiling windows.