Gokugoku

Mixed-use retail & Restaurant
1380 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
2023

Gokugoku is a traditional Japanese-style restaurant. However, to combine with the design goal to spread sake culture by innovation, some rules are broken. The space is no longer symmetrical, and a lot of space and shape are twisted and moved. From the materiality, more colorful and shiny materials are used, other and only wood. 






Entrance



The glass is tilted and extended from the roof. With the sunlight hits the flowing water, the water will create a reflection on the floor while people walk underneath. On the left side are the wood ribs curved into different shapes like water flowing.

Check - In



The check-in space is on the right side after entering the space. It is half covered by the woven cane all the way to the celling. The glass at the back can see the views of garden and creates a serene feeling.

Tasting & Learning



The continuous shape of the check-in space with woven canes keeps the feeling serene and mysterious. In the tasting and learning space, people will learn about the sake culture and learn through tasting sake. 

Private Dining



The private dining is serene for people to enjoy the moment with friends and family. The washi paper creates the blurry view of garden.

Public Dining



The dining area is the most cheering part of the restaurant. In sake culture, people drink sake for celebration. Therefore, people gather here to celebrate and cheer. Tinted glasses add more color to the space and create a happy feeling. Rotating panels make more movement and give a lot of fun to discover. Turning the rotating panels to see the view of the central garden connects people with the space better. 


This is also a colorful and cheering part of the whole experience. The brass not only has a quality of elegant and divine, but also luxury and shiny. Tinted glasses appears again and connects the feeling of retail with dining.  This is also a colorful and cheering part of the whole experience. The brass not only has a quality of elegant and divine, but also luxury and shiny. Tinted glasses appears again and connects the feeling of retail with dining.

Material Palate


  • Water texture glass
  • Sandstone
  • Polyester cream fabric
  • Woven cane
  • Warlon sheet
  • Tinted glass - blue
  • Tinted glass - yellow
  • Bamboo wood
  • Blue tile
  • Gravel 
  • laminated frosted glass
  • Light blue tile
  • Washi paper
  • Satin brass
  • Plant 
  • Blue terrazzo
  • White oak plank






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