07BEACH completes ramen shop inspired by old video games in okinawa, japan

07beach recreates the nostalgic pixelation of old video games

Architect Joe Chikamori from 07BEACH has recently completed ‘Kaishin No Ichigeki’, a video game-inspired ramen shop in Okinawa, Japan. The restaurant name, picked by the client, is a signature phrase from an old role-playing game (RPG) guaranteed to get locals nostalgic. The architectural design clearly references the pixellated and dot-like interface of these earlier video games, which Chikamori abstracted to a certain extent to avoid a cheap and childish aesthetic.
the white pattern inspired by curly noodles covers the front like an abstract checkboard pattern
all images © Yoshiaki Ida

using ordinary materials to build a freshly unique interior

07BEACH (see more here) used commonplace and inexpensive materials, like white ceramic tile, wood, cement, and carpet tiles, to build the ramen shop — combinining them in playful ways to create a freshly unique space.

For example, Chikamori covered the walls with a wavy, noodle-like pattern using white tiles on gray mortar. ‘The pattern would be more recognizable if it was spaced farther apart, but that could cheapen the overall aesthetic, so something like an abstracted checkered motif was applied to give way to a bit of curiosity and taste,’ explains the architect.

Another playful detail appears in the placement of condiments. The client initially wanted to keep them hidden to avoid a messy tabletop, but 07BEACH had a better idea. ‘We decided to display the condiment as if they were an item you can get in a video game, so we placed them on pedestals that look like pixellated blocks. Surprisingly, the condiments made the interior look a whole lot better.’

‘つけめん’ (dipping noddle) refers to the shop’s signature dish

it’s all in the details 

Chikamori also added a seating area for groups that recalls the architecture of a game castle. The low wall separating this area from the rest of the space prevents children from falling off and creates some level of privacy. Here, wood and ceramic tile tops are paired with green carpet tiles that mimic fields in the RPG world. 

Moving on to the restaurant’s more ‘public’ area, the architect sought to ‘break’ the geometric aesthetic by installing ready-made round legs on each stool. ‘These are foreign to the interior composed only of squares and straight lines, but such a little design noise makes the overall space look friendlier,’ he concludes. 

materials are commonplace, like white tiles + wood, but how they’re combined makes the space unique
seating for groups, enclosed by a castle-like wall to offer more privacy

green carpet tiles evoke a RPG field while seasonings stand on blocks like items in a video game 

night-time view of the restaurant interior, revealing a subdued ambiance

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project info:

name: Kaishin No Ichigeki / Ramen shop in the Video Game World

location: Ikehara, Okinawa-shi, Okinawa-ken, Japan 

construction type: Renovation

floor area: 76.6 sqm 
architecture: 07BEACH

lead architect: Joe Chikamori 

contractor: Ikehara Kensetsu
design period: 10.2021 – 02.2022
construction period: 01.2022 – 04.2022
photography: Yoshiaki Ida | @alien_dandp

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom