Panton Yokocho | Blenheim Design

Our interior design challenge was to create the sense of walking through a maze of Japanese narrow alleys whilst inside a Grade II listed building.

Authentic traditional Izakaya design by Blenheim Design. Our design challenge was to create the sense of walking through a maze of Japanese narrow alleys whilst inside a Grade II listed building.

We envisaged the Yokocho interior as a Japanese sanctuary, free from the care of everyday life which will take visitors on a nostalgic tour of downtown Tokyo.

Unlike the formally symmetric layouts and subtle décor of many restaurants, the Yokocho interior will improve with furniture and décor displacement. The interior design is an appreciation and celebration of charming imperfection often celebrated by Japanese philosophers.

Our designers drew inspiration from a recent trip to Tokyo where we stumbled across Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku district. At the time we weren’t aware how an accidental find would turn into an indispensable source of information. We wanted to capture that essence of walking through aromatic, noisy, visually loud food alleys, where every sense is engaged in a warm hearted way.

These façades were layered with carefully chosen upcycled props to create an authentic visual punch. Japanese food alley in London Restaurant

The interior was carefully shaped into a grid of three alleys featuring izakaya portico’s, shop fronts and kiosks with overhanging roofs.

Hand water pump, food cart , telephone booth feature inside Yokocho restaurant Interior. Blenheim Design embraced sustainability, versatility and innovation despite working with limited resources and obstacles imposed by the pandemic.

The combination of Yamato-hari textured plaster, strips of upcycled cedar wood tied with salvaged oak and pine were utilised to create raw material façades. The natural materials were chosen to act as an authentic background to the vivid colours of paper lanterns, posters and signs.

Strategically positioned shop openings were created to deliver views into neighbouring alleys whilst also performing as food counters and seating areas. These façades were layered with carefully chosen upcycled props to create an authentic visual punch.

Noodle vending machine inside Japanese Restaurant Yokocho in Panton Street, London.

Multiple textures, tones, shapes and materials were used to bring surprise, intrigue, delight and playfulness to the concept. Original phone booths, vending machines, bicycles, power lines, beer crates and authentic signs were employed to capture the essence of Tokyo’s alleyways.

Authentic Japanese signs were used to capture the essence of Japanese Yokocho alleys