Taiwanese studio INK Design Space has paired warm Japanese timber craft with the storybook charm of the Nordic Moomin characters at the Tainan T.S. Mall branch of Kurogeya, a Japanese hot pot brand under the Kanpai Group.
At the entrance, timber lattice screens and vermilion noren curtains form a soft threshold that filters out the noise of the surrounding mall and draws diners into the restaurant.
Diners gather around a central island counter, where they can watch the staff prepare ingredients up close. Above it, a large rounded pendant diffuses a gentle, moonlit glow that warms the restrained wood palette.
Murals of Moomin and his friends playing on a summer beach line the walls. Set against the warmth of the simmering pots, the illustrations lend the dining room a carefree, nostalgic mood that encourages sharing at the table.
Storage is concealed beneath the curved counter, where napkins and cutlery sit in built-in drawers. The joinery was bent and cut to follow the arc, with each drawer set flush into the curve so diners can reach what they need mid-meal.
With long-term operation in mind, the chair covers are removable and fastened with Velcro, making them simple to wash and replace. The detail tackles a common maintenance problem with upholstered furniture in restaurants and keeps a high-traffic space clean and comfortable.
Vertical timber battens run throughout the interior, their ordered rhythm drawing the eye upward and giving the room a calm, Zen-like quality. Curved lattice screens soften the structure and guide circulation from the entrance towards the dining areas deeper inside.
| This case was designed by INK Design Space
Article by: Lee Khe Ying
Mandarin version:【商空開箱】把姆明童話搬進日式鍋物空間！黑毛屋台南南紡店 | INK Design Space 簡兆芝室內設計
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INK Design Space
A：2F., No.17, Sec.3, Minsheng E.Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City 104083, Taiwan(R.O.C)
T：（+886）2 2500 0653
E：kathy@inkdesignspace.com
W：www.inkdesignspace.com
