█ bento asian kitchen
lake nona, orlando, fl : [2020]
According to eastern folklore, a humble koi fish was transformed into a noble dragon as a reward for tenaciously swimming upstream along the Yellow River. This parable extolls hard work and valiant efforts in the face of obstacles. For this reason, the koi fish is regarded as an auspicious symbol in Chinese and Japanese cultures. The imagery of unassuming koi fish swimming against the current became the inspiration for this space. A mosaic mural composed of thousands of pieces of colored glass tile forms a curved surface that envelopes the dining room in a sea of shimmering blue. Abstracted koi fish appear to swim gracefully overhead. The walls and ceiling are rendered in various shades and textures of white to create a space that feels bright and inviting. The warmth of wood and leather furniture is used to strategically counterbalance the coolness of materials like tile, stone, plaster, and glass.
photo credit | Chad Baumer Photography