The design of Sushi Shunei begins with the premise of embracing modernity, while remaining respectful of heritage. The challenge of the site then became how to make a dark corridor feel ample and give a sense of wonder. To answer this, we created a colonnaded nave that recreates the sensation of entering a chapel. But it isn't a chapel in the conventional sense, the wooden ceiling pleats borrow the folds of origami in order to amplify light. This creates a chiaroscuro effect with highly lit surfaces that contrast strong shadows, creating a sense of drama and spectacle.

The resulting geometry in the ceiling has a contextual take on Parisian Classicism with the interior coffers that adorn the city, yet here we reduce its ornamentation to a bare minimum, and turn the grid in an unconventional angle. At the same time it takes on the characteristic and scale of a pitched roof Japanese tea house. The limitation in width creates an argument for an unusual oblique counter, which allows both to maximize chef facing seats, yet allows for circulation throughout the restaurant. Through this gesture, every customer has an unobstructed view, activating the plan with an unexpected force. From the exterior, the exaggerated interior is cut to be a flattened two dimensional surface, revealing its section, and turning the whole restaurant inside out. This abstracted geometry not only takes on the scale of a Japanese Tea House, but also somehow takes the role of abstracting the monumental pedimented facades found throughout the city, creating a familiar gesture out of an unfamiliar assembly.