Ruri Kaiseki is a fine dining restaurant in Italy designed by Takeda Katsuya Design studio that celebrates the authenticity of Japanese cuisine and culture.
The authenticity of Japanese design is reflected in the decision to create an 80-square-meter restaurant with a sushi bar only that features a long table made from a single 9-meter wood slab. The sushi bar accommodates 12.
The table of the counter is made of wood, while the structure is crafted from Neapolitan tuff, a covering material that evokes traditional Japanese stone. This use of tuff gives the counter a solid presence and is replicated on the restaurant’s external walls.
The layout and design of the counter are inspired by the Japanese Noh theatre, where culinary art takes center stage, and the chef performs like an actor. Soft and subtle lighting is designed to create a theatrical effect and highlight the chef.
In the choice of materials used, Katsuya creates a perfect blend of East and West, where Japanese influences are intertwined with European materials.
The architectural element of the koushi-do, a typical wooden lattice, is incorporated at the entrance of the restaurant and in the sliding doors that separate the main dining area from the kitchen. The sliding door is embellished with a noren, a curtain made of raw linen that is covered in rough white plaster.
One of the most significant design elements is the shichirin, a Japanese charcoal burner used to smoke fish and infuse the dishes with a unique and unmistakable flavor, deeply tied to tradition.
The restaurant’s flooring is inspired by the Japanese technique of kintsugi, the art of restoration designed to repair ceramic cups by highlighting the break lines with gold dust. In the restaurant, this technique is honored through the resin concrete floor, deliberately created with cracks that simulate the traditional restoration technique, making every line an artistic detail.
Images courtesy of Takeda Katsuya Design
