mikiya kobayashi introduces ‘kaido’, a new sushi bar located within the sunny city of valencia, in spain. drawing inspiration from the local natural environment, the design generates a minimalist interior with spatial elements that remind of the sun and the sea.

mikiya kobayashi designs a new sushi bar in valencia inspired by sea and sun 2
all images by digval comunicación, santiago relanzon

 

 

in ‘kaido’ (meaning ‘sea road’ in japanese), mikiya kobayashi has incorporated custom-made furniture pieces and objects in order to reflect the natural conditions of valecia. the ceiling is essentially an installation of ‘suns’, with circular wooden panels that serve as filters for the spotlights. ‘valencia is sunny for about 300 days a year, and I wanted to express how the sunlight interacts with the sea surface and sways’ says the designer. ‘when you look at the surface of the sea from underwater, the sunlight is diffused and split into innumerable lights, as if it comes not from just one sun but from many of them’ he explains. 

mikiya kobayashi designs a new sushi bar in valencia inspired by sea and sun 3

 

 

the restaurant presents a minimal design composed of wood and black tiles from valencia. however, when approaching the counter seats from the entrance, customers are surrounded by the warmth of the wooden decorative panels manufactured by LZF lamps. this feeling expresses the concept of going from underwater to the warmer and brighter water surface, like the contrast between a darker place and the sunlight.

mikiya kobayashi designs a new sushi bar in valencia inspired by sea and sun 4

 

 

available in three sizes, suns by kobayashi are characterized by a quiet, respectful, and minimal sense of beauty. they are constructed with the use of a circular wood veneer sheet, contained within a matt black steel frame. they can be used as separately as decorative objects, as well as in clusters, especially when meant for bigger or public spaces like restaurants or hotel halls. 

mikiya kobayashi designs a new sushi bar in valencia inspired by sea and sun 5

 

 

the chairs used around the counter are the mast chair designed by kobayashi for his own original lifestyle brand implements and manufactured by karimoku. ‘after working with karimoku for over 10 years, I have realized that the quality of their wooden furniture is exceptional. in order to pursue the best ergonomics, they use the latest manufacturing technologies, such as measuring heart rate and brain waves to reflect them in sitting comfort’ kobayashi shares. ‘I wanted to have this chair made with such a special attention to let customers enjoy high quality sushi, a dish that symbolises japan’. 

mikiya kobayashi designs a new sushi bar in valencia inspired by sea and sun 6

mikiya kobayashi designs a new sushi bar in valencia inspired by sea and sun 7

mikiya kobayashi designs a new sushi bar in valencia inspired by sea and sun 9

mikiya kobayashi designs a new sushi bar in valencia inspired by sea and sun 10

mikiya kobayashi designs a new sushi bar in valencia inspired by sea and sun 11
the chef yoshikazu yanome

 

 

project info:

 

name: kaido – suns
designer: mikiya kobayashi
location: valencia, spain

 

 

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: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom