IWA Japanese Dining Room

The design concept for IWA Japanese Dining Room drew inspiration from the elemental contrasts at the heart of Japanese cuisine: the primal art of cooking over charcoal and fire set against the cool, fluid world of the sea, home to fish, the staple of the Japanese diet. This tension between heat and water was expressed through materiality: raw sawn timber and warm copper surfaces juxtaposed with sleek black finishes and smooth slate. To reinforce the integrity of the concept, all furniture and lighting was custom-designed by Maria Briganti of Oblong, giving the space a distinct and cohesive identity.

Sustainability was central to the design approach. Existing elements were reimagined and repurposed such as the original oak panelling, screen-printed with fish motifs to weave it into the spatial narrative. Log seating, camping lanterns, and Australian glazed clay bricks were chosen for their authenticity and low environmental impact, yet they also became defining design gestures that shaped the restaurant’s character. Graphic elements added further depth, tying the visual language into the overall experience.