Sustainability & Superstar Architect Kengo Kuma

ot often does Studio 104 get to collaborate on a bespoke uniform design with a living legend, especially in our passion area of high-end design and architecture. Our commission for the famed Hakkasan Group’s luxury Japanese London restaurant, Sake No Hana, was the moment we were introduced to the magnificent interior designs of Kengo Kuma.

Kengo Kuma is Japan’s leading architect having designed buildings around the world, including several in China and the stunning V&A Dundee in Scotland, which opened to the public in 2018.

A longstanding proponent of creating symbiotic relationships between manmade structures and their natural surroundings, he is most well-known for his sustainable approach often championing the use of natural materials such as stone and wood in contemporary architectural design.

Kuma has recently applied his architectural philosophies to a project of unprecedented scale and importance: Japan’s National Stadium, which officially opened its doors in December 2019 and will serve as the main stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the venue for track and field athletics events at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2021.

Sake No Hana is where world-class culinary experiences and dramatic design converge.  Set in the heart of Mayfair, in a striking yet serene high-design dining room setting. It is modern, sumptuous, and authentically Japanese.

Studio 104’s task was to create an elegant uniform design that complimented the space, its Japanese origins and the exquisite food offerings. With the interiors following Kuma’s signature ethos the restaurant is awash with linear bamboo and cypress wood giving the feel of a futuristic forest.

His eye-catching design inspired our fabric selection, we designed a bespoke weave with surface interest, including linear and lattice formations. This fabric choice became a distinctive feature within the front of house uniforms, highlighted with an accent tone to truly complement the restaurant interior.

The restaurant is always dramatic with varying shades dependent on the time of day. Glassware and bamboo shutters create a striking watermark effect, which has been highlighted in the uniform sash and through the fabrication. Charcoals mix with natural earthy tones that create a sophisticated mood within the interior, which has informed our own distinctive colour palette to complement the space.  

Knowing Kengo’s philosophy as we do, we hope our modern uniform solution has taken the true spirit of his design and continues to elevate the contemporary Japanese dining experience to new levels. And just like Kengo, with his passion for sustainability we follow comparable ethics by promoting sustainable business principles and practices throughout our supply chain. We work with fabric mills that comply with Oeko-Tex (Sustainable Textile Production) and comply with ITF traceability certification.  This provides an awareness and transparency to the origins and footprint of materials. All products are tested to ISO standards and all suppliers adopt our ‘Code of Conduct’ which recognises the rights of all workers set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Sake no Hana is celebrating the festive season with a seasonal menu and a new cocktail list. Reservations are available at hakkasangroup.com/sakenohana/

Studio 104 provides a dedicated, high-end service supplying exclusively designed, bespoke and contemporary uniforms, to luxury and premium brands worldwide.

Written by Stephen - Brand & Marketing Manager