Tokyo, Japan, 2020-03-06 -  Located on the ground level, “nôl” is a restaurant atelier with a distinct concept. Functioning as an experimental kitchen, nôl can also be considered as a flexible space freed from the physical restraints of a classical restaurant. A place where talented chefs can use for catering preparation or for irregular dinner events. Thus compared to the spacious kitchen, this restaurant has only eight table seats. Though it is compact, the goal was to create an atmosphere that suits the extraordinary dishes that will be prepared. Since the name of this facility comes from the French term “non-usuel (non-usual)” and “noir (black)” the space was designed with black as its key-color, and the idea was to create a restaurant with a special feeling which is not fully open to the public considering the stance and characteristics of the space. The dining area was finished with a matte, dark-toned lysine from floor to ceiling. To create depth, the space was painted in a gradation from grey to dark grey. Pendant lights above the tables were newly designed to fit the space, and the shade of the lightings were finished with the same lysine material to maintain a common tone and to exaggerate the contrast between the light and the ceiling. The kitchen was mainly finished with stainless-steel, in order to create a brighter image and a space which functions like a stage in contrast to the black dining area.

Technical sheet
Client: MARUTAYA Co., Ltd.
Type of Project: Renovation
Use: Kitchen Studio
Period: Oct 2017 – May 2019
Floor area: 127m2
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Direction: Aid Inc
Design: Koichi Futatusmata, Koichi Shimohira(CASE-REAL), Yasushi Arikawa(Partner)
Cooperation: TANK, Tanabe Kensetsu
Lighting Plan: BRANCH lighting design (Tatsuki Nakamura)
Manufacture of Furniture: E&Y
Sign Design: Aid Inc
Paint: Nakamura paint
Photo: Daisuke Shima

About Futatsumata

Futatsumata's studio specifying in product / object design. !is studio aims to create objects which show the more personal side and activities of Koichi Futatsumata, portraying his thoughts and ideas of design, with even more originality.

About CASE-REAL

CASE-REAL is a design firm based in Japan organized around Koichi Futatsumata and plans various designs such as spaces, interiors, constructions. 

About KOICHI FUTATSUMATA

Designer. Born in Kagoshima, Japan in 1975. He is based in Fukuoka and Tokyo working internationally with variety of works including architectures, furnitures, products and objects. e head of both studios, "CASE-REAL" and "KOICHI FUTATSUMATA STUDIO". e representative products and objects are "Cutlery for valerie_objects (valerie_objects/2015)", "HYGGE BOARD (SKAGEN/2015)", "SHOE STOOL (Opinion Ciatti/2014)", "in the sky (E&Y/2010)," "HAMMOCK (E&Y/2009)" and others. Also, in 2011, his work "22 (EK Japan/2009)" was added to the permanent collection at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Representative architectural and interior works include: "Wine&Sweets TSUMONS (Fukuoka/2014)", "Restaurant on the sea (Kagawa/2013)", "Aesop Sapporo Stellar Place (Sapporo/2016)". Received many awards