Commercial Design, Restaurant Interiors, Retail Design, Interior DesignFlorence LApril 22, 2023Waku WakuInterior Design, Melbourne, Restaurant Interior Design

WAKU WAKU || Contemporary Japanese Restaurant Captures Elegance and Simplicity of Wabi-Sabi

Commercial Design, Restaurant Interiors, Retail Design, Interior DesignFlorence LApril 22, 2023Waku WakuInterior Design, Melbourne, Restaurant Interior Design

Waku Waku, a new contemporary Japanese restaurant in the Melbourne CBD, captures the understated elegance and simplicity of wabi-sabi in an inviting interior coupled with a ‘kawaii’ and memorable brand identity.

The design embraces the ancient Japanese philosophy, which finds beauty within imperfection and transience through a highly textured palette, celebrating the natural aesthetics of materiality.

*Sand-coloured leather upholstery provides comfortable and stylish seating. The crinkled leather will also weather gracefully with use.*

Herringbone timber flooring, tan-coloured porcelain tiles and soft-clay rough-cast rendered walls create a warm and intimate space. The travertine titanium counter and tabletops, chestnut-stained timber seating and sand-coloured crinkled leather upholstery add further tactility to the dining experience. This palette reveals and highlights the irregularities and textures of natural materials, fostering an appreciation of beauty and a sense of tranquillity while customers enjoy a dine-in meal.

They say the hardest thing is to make something simple, yet Waku Waku effortlessly achieves this with a meticulously considered interior that presents a clean and unified aesthetic for diners.

A glowing overhead lantern, reminiscent of traditional shoji screens, diffuses soft ambient light and casts a warm and welcoming impression. Outside, bold signage captures the hustle and bustle of the CBD laneway, referencing Japan’s vibrant streetscapes.

*Chestnut-stained timber seating at the bar.*

*Dining chairs created for the space by Biasol.*

Waku Waku translates to ‘thrilling’ or ‘exciting’. Taking cues from Japan’s ‘kawaii’ culture and the restaurant’s name, Biasol refreshed and elevated the existing brand identity, fully integrating it within the dining experience. The simplified colour palette, bold graphics and playful logo appeal to a younger demographic of foodies, and are fun and recognizable across social media, marketing, merchandise and apparel.

Balancing a wabi-sabi-inspired interior and a modern, playful brand, Waku Waku offers a memorable and inviting dining experience that is distinctly unique to Melbourne.