Yaki Gentle: A Symphony of Taste and Tradition

Ru Yu Wu's Victorian-Inspired Grill Restaurant Wins Iron A' Design Award

Yaki Gentle is not just a restaurant; it's a time machine that transports its patrons to a bygone era of art and aesthetics. The owner's ambition to create a historical context for a sensory experience beyond taste has been realized through the meticulous design of Ru Yu Wu. The space is a tribute to the Victorian era, with a minimalist twist that reinterprets the elaborate elements of the time, achieving a personalized balance within the classic framework.

The restaurant's ambiance is reminiscent of a European opera house, with winding pathways, contrasting colors, and curved walls leading guests through a dramatic dining experience. Arched doorways, high ceilings, and red curtains contribute to the theatrical atmosphere, while the symmetrical and asymmetrical design elements are carefully balanced to enhance the room's artistic beauty and delicacy.

Yaki Gentle's unique properties lie in its ability to provide a spacious yet intimate setting. Theater-style seating with booths on either side of an open central space ensures that each guest enjoys both privacy and the grandeur of the restaurant. The design cleverly incorporates both symmetrical and asymmetrical elements to achieve visual balance, a testament to Ru Yu Wu's attention to detail and commitment to creating an immersive dining environment.

The technical realization of Yaki Gentle is as impressive as its aesthetic appeal. The restaurant employs decorative HPL with a marble effect, molding, woodwork, and eco-friendly water-based paints to create its stunning interior. A raised floor conceals ducts for a smoke-free and odorless environment, while downdraft vents replace common range hoods, ensuring a high-quality dining experience.

Designing Yaki Gentle was a complex endeavor, requiring compliance with stringent regulations and a deep understanding of heat convection for proper air conditioning, heating, air exchange, and filtration. The equipment is ingeniously hidden, and the air outlets are strategically placed to avoid premature heat exchange, which could lead to energy waste and condensation issues. This meticulous planning ensures that the airflow is minimally intrusive, maintaining the restaurant's elegant atmosphere.

Yaki Gentle's design research focused on creating a space that caters to business executives and celebrities, offering a high-end club-like atmosphere with discreet private rooms, individual booths, and open seating. The large private room features a dedicated grill station for teppanyaki shows, adding an interactive element to the dining experience. The challenges of ventilation and airflow were overcome with innovative solutions that integrated functionality into the aesthetic design, ensuring that the restaurant's environment remains comfortable and inviting.

With its combination of historical inspiration and modern design, Yaki Gentle stands as a testament to Ru Yu Wu's design philosophy. It's a space where every detail, from the curved walls and indirect lighting to the hidden air ducts, contributes to an exceptional dining experience. The Iron A' Design Award is a fitting recognition for a restaurant that not only serves exquisite cuisine but also offers a feast for the senses.