Location: The Crystal, Ekamai-Ramindra, Bangkok, Thailand.

Area: 110 m2

Partner & Lead Designer: Montira Panpleewan
Team: Jaturon Kingminghae, Thadcharin Suttapom, Thanawan Dolchalermkiat, Ponsury Saksin-Udom, Vitchapol Taerattanachai

Client: Superior Food Co.,Ltd.

Photography: Chaichoompol Vathakanon

I. THE SCREENPLAY

Named after “Tsuru” (鶴) - the Japanese holy crane whose mythical manifestation promises longevity and great fortune - the ‘ZURU’ restaurant strives to portray traditional crafts and values in the modern age through the reconciliation of the old and the new. Drawing inspiration from the intricacy of the folding of the origami crane, the restaurant vows to deliver contemporary Japanese flavors to its customers with the same care - through the meticulous process of Japanese cuisine and the delicate selection of the very best ingredients.

II. THE RECEPTION

Ensconced inside a “lifestyle” mall on the sumptuous, family and business-oriented Ekamai-Ramindra road northeast of Bangkok, the restaurant seeks to attract a wide target group from couples and families to young entrepreneurs and seasoned business persons of the area. Once one arrived in the hall of the mall, from even before the moment they step into the restaurant, their eyes catch the crispness of the neat folds of the ceiling’s timber battens on the ceiling - the series of which bends and holds to create an immersive experience of a rocking stream inverted above. The seams are an abstraction of the creases one makes to fold the out-stretched wings of the origami crane ‘orizuru’. They mark the limbic period of creation, the beat between thoughts and the pause before existence (they also mark the different seating zones, but let us continue on the poetry) This rhythm follows the eye differently as one moves through the space, but always leads it to the central stage

III. THE STAGE

To enrich the experience in this rejuvenation of the old crafts, at the heart of the space stands sombre the dark granite counter atop a raised floor. This monument-esque platform does not only prove useful as a tactical means to conceal the system works, but more importantly to visually frame the main stage, alluding to the Japanese theatre and the theatricality of culinary preparation - with, of course, the chef performing his starring role.

This stage-audience relationship ensures a strong rapport between the chef and the customers. Maintaining a respectful, comfortable distance, the counter is leveled to precisely fit the optimum height for serving fresh sushi, allowing direct interactions to become an integral part of the experience. Now hear the chops against the chopping board and the do the quickening tempo of chopsticks against porcelain. This is the rhythm of the crane.

IV. THE BACKSTAGE

On a less kempt and very decidedly unpoetic note, it is worth remarking that this has been our fourth time working with ‘ZURU’. The intimate collaboration through the years has yielded many sweet fruits: the discovery of said optimum height for serving sushi and the importance of different seating zones, to mention a few. It is important to us to make known that design remains ever a two-way street, one that is to be enjoyed by both parties involved. What warm atmosphere that comes through these images is entirely credited to that relationship. The true art, as they say, is indeed the friendship we have made along the way.