Los Angeles design firm OWIU Studio has completed GOHO, a new 55-seat restaurant from Proper Concepts in Singapore. Chic and modern, the concept evokes a stylish industrial ethos, occupying the second floor of a conservation shophouse as well as an intimate mezzanine.
“We sought to reimagine the space for a Kaiseki restaurant and bar fit for the 21st century, veering away from the look and feel of quintessential high-end Japanese restaurants,” says Joel Wong, principal of OWIU and cofounder of Proper Concepts. “Instead of using typical wood counters and décor, we opted for a material palette that was raw, desaturated, and industrially modern.”
Raw, patinaed metal sheets punctuate the arrival experience, initiating a narrative driven by unique materials. A large installation adorns the dark-washed ceilings with a reinterpretation of the GOHO logo that serves as a dramatic focal point above the 36-foot-long green marble bar, where guests can observe the chefs at work. The bar extends toward the end of the interior, where it transforms into a backlit alabaster cocktail station.
OWIU also partnered with local carpentry firm Baremetalco to fashion custom chairs that embody modernism and maximize comfort. Custom floor-to-ceiling shelving also contextualizes the double-volume space, showcasing a range of spirits and Japanese artifacts.
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