SYNES

Japanese Restaurant Kayo, Virginia, USA

― Does it start with light or darkness? ―

-Does it start with light or darkness?

The West starts with light and creates a space by blocking the light.
The Orient (Japan) creates a space as if looking at life in the darkness and paying close attention to the darkness. Light is as important and important as a drop of water.

Eyes get used to the darkness little by little, and we feel that the creatures wriggling there.

Here, I did not expose the light source as much as possible, and only considered what kind of darkness was suitable for this place.

― 光から始まるのか、闇から始まるのか ―

西洋は光から始まり、光を遮るように空間をつくる。
東洋（日本）は闇に生命を見て、闇に目を凝らすように、空間をつくる。光は一滴の水のように、大切な、大切な存在。

闇にすこしずつ目が慣れ、少しずつそこに生きる命が蠢いているのを感じる。

ここでは光源をなるべく露出させず、この場にふさわしい闇とはどのようなものか、だけを考えた。

DATA :

  • SERVICES : Japanese Restaurant
  • LOCATION : Christiansburg, VA, USA
  • SIZE : - ft² / 130m²

CREDIT :

  • DESIGNER : CUBO/Virginia Polytechnic
    and State University Master of Architecture
    （ヴァージニア州立工科大学修士課程在籍時設計）
  • CONTRACTOR : Phillip Pasqualino
    /Intention and Extension
  • LIGHTING DESIGNER : Phillip Pasqualino
  • PHOTOGRAPHER : CUBO

ON MAKING :

  • MATERIAL : Plaster with sand（砂入ジョイントコンパウンド）
    Bamboo（竹）
    Golden foil（金箔）
    Steel I-beam（Ｈ鋼）
    Polyurethane + Aqueous synthetic resin paint（ウレタン塗料＋水性エマルジョン塗料）

  • POINTS : Since I was a master's student, I designed it with almost no reward.
    Initially I was planning to work with a local carpenter, but he gave up because he couldn't understand my ideas.

    After that, I decided to proceed with joint design and construction with Mr. Philip, a carpenter and artist who is also a graduate of Virginia Tech.

    It took 6 months and my graduation was greatly delayed.

    Without this project, I wouldn't be able to talk about my life after that. An important first step.


    （I was told that it is too dark from the health inspector, and downlights are unavoidably added, health inspactor and fire departments come to check frequently, and due to budgetary reasons, I travel to other states to find used kitchen equipment by myself several times by car.
    Even just increasing the gas capacity makes it difficult to complete the procedures.
    In addition, the air supply / exhaust distance was insufficient, fire inspector requested us to correct it. .. .. Even if I didn't know anything, I am so proud now that I told clients "Leave the project to me.!"

    修士課程の学生であったこともあり、ほぼ報酬無しでの設計。
    当初ローカルの大工さんとの進める予定であったが、コミュニケ―ションが取れずに断念。

    その後同じVirginia Techの建築学部の卒業生でもあるカーペンター＆アーティストのフィリップ氏と共同設計及び共同施工で進めることに。

    6か月かかり、卒業が大きく遅れたが、しかしこのプロジェクト無くして、その後の私の人生は語れない。大切な最初の一歩。

    （保健所から暗すぎると言われ、止む無くダウンライト増設したり、保健所や消防の役所の方が工事中に何度も確認に来られたり、予算の関係で一人で中古の厨房機器探しに他の州に何度も車で出かけたり…。
    ガスの容量増やすだけでも、手続きや立ち合いで苦労し、給気口と排気口の距離が足りないと消防官に是正を求められ。。。　何も知らなくても、「出来ます！」と応えたその時の自分を眩しく感じる。）