CASE-REAL: "Ocean Restaurant" Opens on Teshima Island
LOUNGE / EAT
May 28, 2015

CASE-REAL: "Ocean Restaurant" Opens on Teshima Island


CASE-REAL | Umi no Restaurant

A Restaurant Designed by CASE-REAL, Aiming to Be a Hub for Island Cuisine


“Umi no Restaurant” Opens on Teshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea

 

This July, “Umi no Restaurant” (Restaurant of the Sea) opened on the coast of Teshima, an island in the Seto Inland Sea. The project, designed by Koichi Futatsumata of CASE-REAL in collaboration with Tsuyoshi Matsuzawa, involved structural design by Hiroshi Ono (Ono Japan), signage planning by Fumikazu Ohara (Soup Design), and furniture production by E&Y. CASE-REAL explains the highly anticipated “Umi no Restaurant.”





Text by CASE-REAL




A Restaurant Aiming to Harness the Island's Abundant Ingredients

This year marks the second Setouchi Triennale. Teshima, one of the festival's host islands, has long been known for its thriving dairy farming and rice cultivation, blessed by the rich bounty of the Seto Inland Sea. Once threatened by depopulation and neglect, its traditional terraced rice fields are now being revitalized by the efforts of many volunteers.



Against this backdrop, “Umi no Restaurant” aims to serve as a vital hub, offering fulfilling culinary experiences to both the growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad, and the island's residents.



In addition to its restaurant functions, the building also houses a public kitchen accessible to all. The vision is for this space to foster communication centered around food, nurturing a new island culture.



Umi no Restaurant | Teshima 02




The reddish-brown foundation contrasts with the blue sea and sky

The structure, approximately 40 meters long with two connected arches along the coastline, is largely covered with corrugated metal for its roof and walls, with a significant portion facing the sea opened as a terrace. This terrace not only frames the stunning ocean view but also serves as a crucial element connecting the various functions of the restaurant, kitchen, and public kitchen.



Umi no Restaurant | Teshima 03




Umi no Restaurant | Teshima 04




The terrace roof uses translucent materials, allowing the brilliant sunlight to create distinct atmospheres within the interior and exterior spaces, even under the same arched roof. The building's foundation, raised to protect against high waves, is made of reddish-brown colored concrete, appearing as if the earth itself has risen. This creates a striking contrast against the blue sea and sky beyond. The architecture embraces the overwhelming natural bounty and ruggedness of the Seto Inland Sea, aiming to coexist as an integral part of the island.



Umi no Restaurant | Teshima 05




“Umi no Restaurant”

Address: Ura, Tonosho-cho, Shodoshima-gun, Kagawa Prefecture

Design: CASE-REAL (Koichi Futatsumata, Yasushi Arikawa)

Project Collaboration: Tsuyoshi Matsuzawa

Structural Design: ONO JAPAN, Hiroshi Ono

Design Cooperation & Construction: Naikai Architect

Lighting Design: Ushio Spectra Fukuoka, Masaaki Sato

Signage Planning: Soup Design, Fumikazu Ohara

Furniture Production: E&Y

Photography: Hiroshi Mizusaki

http://www.chc-co.com/umi/



Koichi Futatsumata

Designer. He leads both CASE-REAL, focusing on interior and architectural design, and KOICHI FUTATSUMATA STUDIO, specializing in product and object design. His work spans interiors, architecture, furniture, and products, characterized by a unique aesthetic born from his sensibility, while prioritizing functionality. Notable interior and architectural works include “Umi no Restaurant” (Teshima, Kagawa/2013), “Tsurumaki House” (Tokyo/2013), “MINORITYREV HIRAO” (Fukuoka/2008), and “Suzukake Main Store” (Fukuoka/2008). His product designs include “22” (EK JAPAN/2009), which is part of the permanent collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, as well as “IN THE SKY” (E&Y/2010), “HAMMOCK” (E&Y/2009), and “CONCENTS” (1998).

(CASE-REAL: http://www.casereal.com/, KOICHI FUTATSUMATA STUDIO: http://www.futatsumata.com/)