Aluminum Flower Garden: Redefining Space with Artistic Ingenuity

Moriyuki Ochiai's Award-Winning Design Transforms a Restaurant with Aluminum Petals

The concept for the Aluminum Flower Garden emerged from a challenge to evoke the floral imagery of the restaurant's name, FLOWER. The design team drew inspiration from Japanese culture, particularly the art of Origami, the Kimono, and the Furoshiki, all of which are created from a single piece of material. In the same vein, the team used a single finite material - aluminum - to create a multifunctional space.

The aluminum, as thin and flexible as paper, spreads across the ceiling, filling the space with its light and airy presence. The creases in the aluminum serve as glittering petals, covering the ceiling and enveloping visitors in a flowery embrace. The size and density of the petals vary, creating different atmospheres in different areas of the restaurant. The viewer's position, angle of vision, and the reflection of images and lights from the mirrors on the walls constantly redefine the appearance of the space, creating a transient and diverse atmosphere.

The design also incorporates sustainable aspects. The aluminum ceiling parts can be disassembled and reinstalled when moving the business to a different location, effectively reducing the costs of moving. This adaptability gives the space its singularity and aligns with the sustainable ethos of the design team.

The Aluminum Flower Garden is not just a restaurant; it's an oasis of comfort. The layering of minutely differing areas throughout the space gives people the opportunity to find their own leisurely comfort zone. As Moriyuki Ochiai Architects put it, "As flowers bloom in all their glory, this delicate yet splendid flower garden provides one and all with moments of delight."

Located in Tokyo, Japan, this 130 sqm restaurant design is a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of Moriyuki Ochiai Architects. The Aluminum Flower Garden is a unique, award-winning design that transforms a simple material into an immersive, artistic space.