Shobosho is a Japanese word that translates simply to fire house, and that very word, and it’s origin in Japan, served as the conceptual framework for the venue as a whole.
The space adheres to a very simple, yet strict palette. Baltic Pine is used throughout the space, both in a natural finish, and a charred finish, achieved through the process of Shou Sugi Ban, an ancient Japanese process, of preserving wood through charring it with fire. This element of burning is reinforced within the open kitchen, where the cooking is an experiment in playing with smoke, steam and fire.
From the street level, the space reveals itself, as a bright and cleverly detailed set of Japanese inspired tables. Users are invited up into the restaurant, through the subdued glow that shines through the slats of the timber cladding, which creates the appearance of an internal shopfront.
Beyond the internal shopfront, the very same timber cladding has been treated with the Shou Sugi Ban leaving a charred finish, a subtle nod to the flavours of the kitchen and the traditions of Japan. The bar, come kitchen and dining table, flanks one side of the space, with a series of timber booths on the other. The bulkheads are treated with custom woven light boxes, akin to the rice paper screens of Japan. Canvas blinds separate each booth from the next which can be rolled up or down depending on the users desire to have an open or more intimate dining experience.
From the outset the menu, the style of cooking, and its Japanese origins, all acted as brief for both the selection of materials and how they were detailed. In keeping with Japanese aesthetic principles, the space adheres to a very simple, yet strict palette. Baltic Pine is used throughout the space, both in a natural finish, and a charred finish, achieved through the process of Shou Sugi Ban, an ancient Japanese process, of preserving wood through charring it with fire, which is a true reflection of the venue name, Shobosho.
