Engawa is the first venture in London for the successful Japanese restaurant group Salt. The 65sqm site is located in the new Firmdale Hotel complex in Ham Yard, Piccadilly. The restaurant’s offer is authentic Japanese cuisine, with a Wagyu beef speciality. Working in association with Dressed Mind, our challenge was to fit all of the requirements of a restaurant into a very small space while maintaining maximum covers.

The restaurant’s name, Engawa, refers to the external wooden veranda outside a traditional Japanese house. This concept sets the tone for the interior: A long, linear open kitchen welcomes customers as they enter and acts as a stage upon which the beautiful food is prepared. The slatted timber ceiling and the feature bulkhead panel made of sprayed metal and resin create intimacy and luxury. Two feature chandeliers made of Japanese paper, and laser-cut “Kanji” characters, accentuate the space and act as an attractive advert for the restaurant, drawing the eyes of passers-by.