A love for Korean cuisine and family culinary secrets from Lazy-chef became the foundation of a successful venue. A small space in Chișinău was selected for the location, and the design was brought to life by the ambitious design studio WOW Project.
The result of this collaboration is a unique restaurant that immediately found a special place in the hearts of the city’s residents. Authentic Korean cuisine combined with a cohesive, deep, and expressive interior created the distinctive identity of Lazy Crazy. At the same time, the space is deliberately minimalist and Laconic — a quality also characteristic of Japanese interiors.
The interior is built around three key elements: an active monochromatic background color, Asian lightboxes, and custom-made furniture in a minimalist Asian style.
The venue is executed in a monochrome palette: terracotta walls and ceilings, ventilation systems — all elements are painted in a single color and seamlessly flow into one another. Hidden lighting adds depth and sculptural quality to the walls and ceiling, creating an engaging play of light and shades.
Bright lightboxes under the ceiling transport guests to the lively streets of Tokyo, infusing the restaurant with the atmosphere of Japanese neighborhoods and centuries-old culture. They function both as décor and as lighting. Intentionally colorful and contrasting, they attract attention and shape the mood of the space. Their vivid graphics allude to advertising, comic characters, and stylized depictions of Asian dishes.
This background is bold and expressive — it immerses visitors in a distinct atmosphere, helping them tune in and fully enjoy Asian cuisine. Being at Lazy Crazy is about a high-quality experience you want to relive again and again.
A historical motif used as a tool for creating atmosphere is the window lattice screens. They do not simply decorate — they shape the space and its character. Originating from Asian architecture, these lattices do not completely enclose; instead, they gently divide space — the boundary is felt even when visibility remains. Here, they create a sense of intimacy.
Custom-made furniture, designed in a minimalist Asian style, plays an important role in the project. The pieces are concise yet expressive, each with its own distinct character.
The chairs are made of wood, pleasant to the touch, with unique natural textures and tones that add warmth and softness, encouraging guests to relax and stay longer. The stools, composed of simple geometric forms — rectangles and cubes — are intentionally designed to highlight the beauty of pure structure.
Wood balances the rich red color of the walls.
A good designer thinks not only about how a space looks, but about how it feels. Wooden furniture helps create a sense of calm even within a vibrant interior.
Metal introduces modernity, a touch of boldness, and an industrial character — evoking the feeling of the city, its rhythm, associations with a busy market. It contrasts with the traditional elements of the interior. Even within a single furniture piece — the tables — a stone base is paired with a contemporary metal tabletop, as if past and present are meeting.
The bar contains no small decorative details — only form and material that reinforce the concept. Metal countertops are smooth and even, subtly reflecting light, which makes the space feel clean and composed. Light plays an essential role here: metal beautifully captures illumination and softly glows.
A projector adds dynamism to the space, continuing the concept of a vibrant Japanese street. Today, the wall may feature a calm illustration; tomorrow — a video; during events — a presentation or atmospheric animation. Importantly, the wall itself becomes the screen. There is no separate canvas — the image is integrated into the space, making it modern while remaining unobtrusive.
Another advantage is the lighting. Warm illumination and deep red walls allow the projected image to appear soft, without harsh contrasts. It complements the atmosphere rather than competing with it.
Lazy Crazy is a space where bold and contrasting ideas meet comfort, proving that even a small Asian restaurant can become an example of thoughtful, deep, and conceptual design.
