Call Me Ten: A Japanese Culinary Haven
Experience a space where Japanese minimalism meets raw, brutalist architecture. This restaurant design uses light and shadow to create a deep, cavernous atmosphere.
The entrance to the dining area, where the dialogue between rough concrete and polished steel begins. The curved forms guide the eye and body, creating an organic flow through a space that feels discovered, not just entered.
A view of the bar, framed by the overarching concrete forms. I designed this space to feel like a modern cavern, where the seating pods offer intimacy and seclusion within the larger, open volume.
A symmetrical composition of the dining pods. The raw stone backdrops contrast with the smooth, sculpted concrete, creating a rich tactility and a visual anchor for each seating area.
The interplay of light and shadow across the contoured concrete ceiling. This view showcases the architectural ribs that define the space, creating a sense of being inside a vast, organic structure.
A closer look at the fusion of materials. The raw concrete shell opens to reveal a sleek, stainless steel kitchen, creating a dynamic contrast between the primal and the precise, the raw and the refined.
The private dining area, where the ceiling forms a sculptural canopy. I designed this intimate space to feel like a secluded chamber, using dark wood and focused lighting to create a sense of exclusivity.
A corridor view, highlighting the contrast between the rough stone wall and the smooth, dark wood of the bar. This passage is a sensory transition, a moment of pause in the spatial narrative.
The bar area, where sculpted forms descend from the ceiling. These elements are not merely decorative; they are functional, housing lighting and ventilation while contributing to the space's unique, subterranean atmosphere.
A detail of the bar, showing the fluted woodwork and the organic, overhanging ceiling structures. Every texture is chosen to contribute to a cohesive, sensory-driven environment.
The main dining level, where the texture of the stone wall is highlighted by soft, ambient lighting. The seating arrangement follows the organic curves of the architecture, creating a natural and comfortable flow.
About Call Me Ten: A Japanese Culinary Haven
The raw concrete arches and rough-hewn stone walls serve a specific purpose. They create a deliberate interplay of textures that softens the inherent harshness of the concrete, making the dining area feel like an organic, modern sanctuary rather than a standard commercial space.
The concept for Call Me Ten was a study in brutalist poetry. We moved away from traditional bright and airy Japanese themes, choosing instead to focus on the weight and texture of raw materials. By using sculpted concrete and shadow-play, we transformed a standard restaurant layout into a multi-sensory environment.
The architecture relies on the dialogue between the primal and the refined. Massive, curving concrete ribs define the seating pods, providing intimacy without the need for partition walls. The stainless steel kitchen elements cut through this cavernous darkness like a sharp, precise edge. This contrast—between the heavy, textured surfaces and the clinical precision of the steel—is what defines the guest experience.
We integrated lighting to guide the eye through this dark volume, highlighting the grain of the stone and the fluted wood surfaces. The goal was to create a space that feels discovered rather than entered. For hospitality brands looking to move beyond standard decor, this project serves as a blueprint for how spatial volume, material restraint, and acoustic layering can completely alter how a guest interacts with a dining environment.
Renesa
We are RENESA, a Delhi-based design studio obsessed with the dialogue between space and memory. We do not believe in trends. We build environments that exist as a conversation between the history of the site and the vision of the brand.
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