█ mosonori
winter park, fl : [2024]
A handroll sushi bar offers guests a dynamic and interactive dining experience. Mosonori features a free-standing U-shaped sushi bar where chefs work from within the bar to prepare freshly made hand-rolls. Diners seated around the bar are treated to an up-close view of the chefs' culinary artistry in action. The space strikes a balance between relaxed comfort and thoughtful sophistication, drawing direct inspiration from Japanese culture and aesthetic principles. Our studio set out to craft a space that would mirror the quality of the ingredients in its use of genuine materials and highlight the craftsmanship of the sushi chefs.
Inspired by Japanese indigo dye, or Aizome, the space features earthy tones of deep blue. The natural process of extracting the dye from the indigo plant results in a range of colors that seem to shift subtly in the light, revealing layers of depth and complexity. This beauty is not only in its visual appeal but also in its connection to Japanese craftsmanship and tradition. The two main walls of the space are decorated with fabric panels that allude to the Japanese dyeing technique of Shibori. The abstract dye pattern recalls a vast view of the ocean or a misty mountainscape. When presented in a panoramic format, the panels evoke the tradition of painted landscape panels that are used to adorn important rooms for receiving guests. The panels feature a trompe l'oeil effect, creating the illusion of expanded boundaries that visually open up the narrow dining room, offering guests a sense of space and a view that extends beyond the walls.
The main finishes include raw concrete, burnished copper, hand-glazed tile, and cypress timber. These materials were chosen for their quiet beauty and their inherent ability to convey a depth of tone and patina. The soft and dim ambient lighting helps to convey a sense of intimacy in the communal dining space. The sushi bar is, in contrast, brightly illuminated to highlight the food and dining experience. A ceiling feature composed of thousands of strands of copper beading floats above the sushi bar. As a material, copper has a long and revered history in traditional Japanese craft and is known for its warmth, malleability, and unique patina over time. The cascading copper beads cast a warm ambient glow that contrasts the cool blue tones of the space.
photo credit | Chad Baumer Photography