iRASSHAi, Paris, 2023

Located in the heart of Paris, iRASSHAi is an 800 m² concept store dedicated to Japanese cuisine. Designed by French architect Hugo Haas and Japanese architect Yusuke Kinoshita, in collaboration with furniture designer Christophe Dubois, the project moves beyond conventional Japanese design clichés. Instead, it draws inspiration from everyday scenes in Japan, reinterpreted within a Parisian architectural context through principles of rationality, modularity, and simplicity.　Organized around a central food market, the space brings together a sake bar, a casual canteen, and a fine-dining restaurant on the lower level. These diverse programs are carefully integrated through a clear spatial composition that maintains connections while preserving the identity of each environment. A series of sculptural interventions in exposed timber, complemented by refined aluminum details, serve as the project’s organizing elements, defining circulation and creating a sequen e of distinct yet interconnected spaces. Particular attention was given to recreating atmospheres inspired by places throughout Japan while allowing them to resonate naturally with Parisian life. The project is guided by a restrained material palette. Ash wood and textured aluminum combine warmth and precision, while white and limestone surfaces create a calm backdrop. In contrast, the lower-level restaurant offers a more intimate setting, where chestnut wood, earth-based finishes, and bespoke glass lighting emerge from a deep black interior.

Photo : Francis Amiand