Kufuku is a minimalist restaurant interior located in Tokyo, Japan, designed by Keiji Ashizawa. Alongside the modern buildings, an old house as if the time had stopped in history appears on the street with little traffic in the very center of Tokyo. Iconic Akari light sculpture by Isamu Noguchi illuminates the entrance of the building like the Moon. Seeing through the transparent glass doors, you can find the modern dining scene melted into space with signs of the Japanese traditional way of life. The old house, whose first floor was a small shop and its second floor was a residential area, had been left untouched for decades. For this project, it was reborn as a French restaurant while taking advantage of the old house. Paying respect to the richness of the material and the building structure, we decided to leave details and indication of the early days as much as possible. At the same time, newly added concrete counter and steel shelving systems complement functions. Selecting lights and furniture with shared elements and material is also crucial to keep an excellent balance between the new additions and the old details. These all amplify the aesthetic beauty of secular change.

Photography by Jonas Bjerre-Poulse

View more works by Keiji Ashizawa