ROOVICE revives tuna restaurant into espresso store on japan’s coast

roovice restores heritage whereas injecting vitality

Alongside the harbor of Misaki situated on the southern tip of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, ROOVICE has reworked an outdated tuna restaurant right into a espresso store. The previous エンゼル Angel restaurant had woven itself into the material of the neighborhood for generations earlier than, forging the city’s very identification till its closure a number of years in the past. The reimagined Miyagawa Angel Parlor unveiled in 2020 embraces the heritage and identification of its predecessor, revitalized with sure spatial components to craft a extra open inside. Drawing parallels to their renovation venture at Miyagawa Bagel within the neighboring Miura city, ROOVICE sought to breathe new life to craft a social area to foster communal gathering.

all photos by Akira Nakamura

openness at Miyagawa Angel Parlor fosters communal gathering

The previous Angel restaurant was celebrated for sourcing recent catches from the close by harbor. Extra than simply an eatery, it was a communal hub that grounded locals in shared experiences, fostering the essence of the village, till its closure a number of years in the past. Retaining the title, location, heritage, and ambiance of the previous restaurant, the Miyagawa Angel Parlor embraces sure components from its predecessor’s inside structure. ROOVICE’s structural alterations discreetly launched a restroom behind the kitchen and a south-side storage room changed the previous again alley entry. The earlier desk dividers had been eliminated for an open, fluid expanse, fostering a steady spatial circulate. A duo of symmetrical benches welcomed patrons simply past the doorway, respectively inside and out of doors of the window, with one doubling as a shelf. The pavement floor is roofed with a purple moquette meant to focus on the wood textures of the interiors.

ROOVICE has reworked an outdated tuna restaurant right into a espresso store

The kitchen counter and the serving tables maintained their authentic kind and dimensions, now topped with a white 10cm tile floor. This design alternative gives a smooth end whereas remaining reasonably priced, whereas mirroring the aesthetics of the Miyagawa Bagel Store sister venture, situated a number of miles away sharing comparable historic and social goals. A big position for establishing the connection of the 2 works is performed by the vast street-facing opening, a visible gateway connecting the inside with the general public realm. This enhances connectivity, and like its bagel store counterpart, exudes an inside glow that illuminates the construction like a lantern.