HINOAK

Area: 130 m2

Location: Melbourne, Australia.

Craft, harmony and a delicate balance between built form and natural underpin the design for Hinoak, a modern but authentic interpretation of the traditional Korean barbecue in Melbourne’s south- east. The studio was commissioned for the project’s interriors and branding, inspired by traditional Chinese iconography.

The concept for the project took design cues from the elegant work of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, exploring the relationship between humanity, nature and design. The result is an interior that is warm, cosy and intimate, filled with the intriguing play of light that filters through the slatted exterior. The branding for the restaurant focused on the Chinese symbol for ‘fire’ – commonly used in Korean culture, this character has been cut into the external battening, recalling Korea’s fine craft traditions.