wataru tanabe studio’s 48 sqm café in japan is a naturally lit, free-form space

doubling as a gallery space, the 'ETHICUS theleema' café includes free-shaped furniture - made of wood, stone, and mortar - that can serve as tables, chairs, or display fixtures.

Wataru Tanabe edited by lea zeitoun December 30, 2021 3 min

ETHICUS theleema doubles as a café and gallery space

ETHICUS theleema is a renovated café located within a holiday home in the japanese prefecture of shizuoka. at the client’s request, architect wataru tanabe completed the interiors as a multifunctional hub for neighboring residents to gather around and local ceramic artists or artisans to exhibit their works. with a total floor area of only 48 sqm, wataru merged both functions of the space (café + gallery) into one L-shaped, open-floor, and white cubic room that can alter its functionality as needed. the only visible separator within the space is a step that loosely divides the interiors into the entrance and back area.

ethicus theleema by wataru tanabe studio 3 — all images © hideki makiguchi

free-form layout + natural lighting respond to the dual function of the interiors

wataru tanabe’s design of ETHICUS theleema stands out with its newly-added openings that bring in daylight and its free-form objects made of logs, natural stones, and mortar lumps. placed at strategic spots and regular intervals across the space, the architect kept the objects in ‘neutral’ shapes to serve different functions that respond to the café’s multifunctional nature. indeed, they can either serve as tables and chairs or display fixtures that hold exhibition pieces. the various layouts punctuating the café, together with custom wooden stacking stools and cushions, create an experience that invites discovery, free-form style, and change at every visit.

ethicus theleema by wataru tanabe studio 1 — combined together, the various layouts and objects create an experience for discovery and change at every visit

ethicus theleema by wataru tanabe studio 9 — custom wooden stacking stools and cushions are spread across the café

ethicus theleema by wataru tanabe studio 6 — a step loosely divides the interiors into the entrance and back area

wataru tanabe studio's 48 sqm café in japan is a naturally lit, free-form space - 1 — ETHICUS theleema is completed as a white cubic room with plenty of façade openings

wataru tanabe studio's 48 sqm café in japan is a naturally lit, free-form space - 2 — the café sits within a holiday home in the shizuoka prefecture

ethicus theleema by wataru tanabe studio 11 — the wooden, stone, and mortar objects are strategically placed to appear in the façade openings

project info:

name: ETHICUS theleema

location: izu kougen, shizuoka, japan
total floor area: 48 sqm
designer: wataru tanabe studio

photography: hideki makiguchi

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