2026
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Client's Name
Country / Region
BAHO Yakiniku specializes in authentic Japanese yakiniku, featuring premium A5 wagyu through precise heat control that honors the ingredient's natural flavor. The brand elevates this foundation with locally sourced ingredients and creative compositions, delivered through a fine-dining service experience.
Anchored in the concept of "Creating The New From Heritage," the project applies a cross-cultural design approach that builds upon the brand's established spatial language and visual identity. Reinterpreted for the new site and contemporary sensibilities, the design establishes a clear and recognizable brand presence within a competitive dining district, aligning commercial positioning with aesthetic expression.
Located in the prosperous urban core of Taichung, the site responds to local dining culture's emphasis on privacy and spatial tranquility. Taking advantage of the property's former use as a detached residence, a front courtyard approximately 15 meters deep is retained as a buffer zone. Green walls and perforated brick elements define visual boundaries, reducing noise and visual distraction while creating a transitional threshold before entry.
In line with the cross-cultural design concept, the storefront adopts a speakeasy-inspired facade, combined with traditional Taiwanese pebble-inlay craftsmanship (monshi) for planter bases and steps. This material palette echoes the natural material transitions of Japanese ryōtei culture, where guests pass through a gravel path before entering the main space.
The space is grounded in a bright, light-toned Nordic modern aesthetic, reflecting contemporary tastes, while retaining the brand's signature British elements—classic moldings and lighting—to maintain identity continuity. Japanese principles of restraint and naturalness extend from the courtyard landscape to interior floral arrangements, creating a layered cross-cultural environment.
Credits
Entrant Company
State University of New York at Buffalo
Category
Student Design - Furniture Design
Entrant Company
State University of New York at Buffalo
Category
Student Design - Furniture Design
Entrant Company
TSAI ARCHITECT & ASSOCIATES
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Architectural Design - Sustainable Living / Green
Entrant Company
Guangdong University of Finance & Economics
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Student Design - User Experience (UX) Design