Address: 2-6-1 Marunouchi BRICK SQUARE 3F, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Program: Restaurant
Construction: Kichi Co., Ltd.
Floor area: 136.2㎡
Completion: 03/2020
Photographer: ad hoc Daisuke Shima

Design firm: Fumihiko Sano Studio
For project inquiry: info@fumihikosano.jp
For press inquiry: press@fumihikosano.jp

This is a hallway within the restaurant that has a wooden alcove on the side with a decoration.

This is a close look at the beamed ceiling of the restaurant.

This is another look at the hallway with the alcove on the side across from the window looking into the dining area.

This is a close look at the ceiling that has metal screens that let light through..

This is the dining area with a couple of wooden tables that match the lighter tone of the hardwood flooring.

The tables of the dining are are contrasted by the bright red cushions of the built-in benches lining the walls.

This is a look at the hallway of the restaurant with an alcove from the vantage of the dining area.

This dining area has a wooden rectangular dining table placed against a wall and paired with modern red chairs.

The wall above the table is adorned with a simple wall-mounted flower vase that complements the brown wall.

This is a hallway leading to the dining area with a alrge counter made of wood for food preparation.

This dining area has a long rectangular dining table surrounded by red modern chairs and has enough space for two electric stoves.

This is a close look at the side of the long rectangular dining table that has a window and counter for food preparation.

This is another look at the counter of the dining area on the far side for food preparation.

This is a close look at the ceiling that has a metal screen on it for insulation.

This is another room with enough space for two long rectangular dining tables.

This large room is complemented with an L-shaped counter on the far corner for preparing food.

On the side of the large dining room is a set of sliding wooden windows.

This is a closer look at the far corner of the room with a single table beside the wooden sliding window.

Considered the gateway to Tokyo, the project is located in a commercial complex near Tokyo Station. Sukiyaki Jyuniten is a restaurant specializing in sukiyaki, a traditional Japanese dish that is prepared and served in a Japanese hot pot. The name “Jyuniten” refers to the Buddhist term “12 heavens” and is a reference to the 12 levels of A5 grade Japanese style beef.

Due to the layout of the fireproof compartment of the kitchen, the depth of the façade was shallow. To make use of the shallow space, the storefront was designed with sukiya-style Kitayama cedar logs and a refrigerated display case for the different cuts of beef. The storefront was designed like a butcher shop so that people passing by could see the beef and would then circulate towards the seating areas.

Further inside the restaurant, the space is designed around the central private room named Marunouchi, to create a layout for accommodating groups of guests and efficient service.

The careful selection of materials of the interior reflects the attention to detail required to properly serve the high-quality A5 grade beef. Tables and counters are made from Japanese cypress. Shelves, lumber boards, cedar, pillars, and girders are made from Kitayama logs. The base plates in the niche are made from wenge. The pillars are made from red pine logs with bark. Signboards are made from sanbunsugi, a specialized cedar wood that is over 250 years old. All materials that come into contact with the occupants of the space are made of solid wood.

To resolve issues with fire regulation, depth of space, and shadow patterns from ceiling lights, the ceiling uses a stainless steel mesh shaped like the feathers of an arrow which gives directionality to space. In the private room, hexagonal double copper mesh ceilings were used so that the ceiling and the sky seen through the windows would be visible through the copper mesh.

Just as stores change over time, the restaurant’s spaces and materials will develop over time, creating a new and different atmosphere in the future.