A Vibrant Family Izakaya
Set in a newly opened mall in Hong Kong’s Lohas Park, Wasyokuya Yamaichi is a family-oriented izakaya designed by local studio Minus Workshop. Here interior designer Kevin Yiu shares more about his approach to incorporating elements of Tokyo within the mall restaurant
Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?
Kevin Yiu: Taste Gourmet Group is a long-term client of ours — we’ve worked on many successful F&B projects together, collaborating on all aspects.
Where is the restaurant located and what makes the location unique?
The restaurant is located on the third level of a new mall in Hong Kong’s Lohas Park. It’s in a relatively bright environment since it sits next to the mall’s ice rink and the exit of a public sky bridge that connects the mall to residential towers.
What was the brief to you for this project?
As Lohas Park is predominantly a residential area, the clients sought to create a family-oriented restaurant with a lively atmosphere that would be easily identifiable in the new mall.
Please tell us a little about the material choices for the space.
As the mall and the ice rink atrium are both really bright, I designed the restaurant in a darker palette to make it stand out nicely in the atrium. The materials I selected include glossy black lacquered bamboo, bold cinnabar panels, stained walnut and grey paint, to name a few.
Please tell us about some of the custom pieces for the space.
As this is a concept-driven restaurant, the entire space’s millwork and fixtures were designed based on the concept of ‘The golden era of Tokyo’.
The red Japanese menu cabinet beside the front desk is immediately noticeable when entering the restaurant, while taking centre stage inside the restaurant is a marble sashimi and grill bar, which stands out like a playful and energetic tangram. The restaurant’s bar space was turned into a kind of kabuki stage for lively cooking performances. There are also red panels framed by chequered panels, a pattern that’s repeated subtly throughout the restaurant.
What other features are you most excited about?
Our collaboration with Agape Resin, a new resin art studio in Hong Kong, is noteworthy. The fan they handcrafted for the restaurant echoes the energetic grill bar, a vivid combination of shades of red that we hope will trigger people’s appetite.
Images / Steven Ko Interior Photography
