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YUGEN DINING & OMAKASE
The experience of underground culture.
In architecture, obstacles generate innovation. Yugen Dining is a perfect example. This cocktail bar and omakase restaurant was transformed from an underground car park into an unforgettable space.
Working with the existing structural walls and columns wasn’t easy — especially since we weren’t willing to compromise on the flow of the space. (We never are).
By overcoming these challenges, we crafted a subterranean dining space that balances intimacy with elegance — a distinctive setting to enjoy a cocktail in Melbourne.
The Brief.
The Capitol Grand is a landmark residential tower in South Yarra, Melbourne. As part of their hospitality masterplan for the area, LK Group asked us to transform a two-storey underground car park into a high-end dining destination.
Originally planned as a nightclub, the space evolved into an intimate cocktail bar and omakase restaurant. To enhance the underground setting, we collaborated with Adrian Pizzey Lighting to create an expressive lighting design, complemented by a custom chandelier by Jennifer Conroy Smith.
With 6-metre ceilings, Yugen Dining feels open and spacious despite being underground. From the mezzanine, guests enjoy a unique perspective of a restaurant that stands apart from the world above.
Project Highlights.
The Golden Orb
Daringly suspended off the mezzanine, the Golden Orb was designed as a VIP dining area resembling a royal theatre balcony. It’s the best seat in town.
Architect testimonial.
“Yugen is a Japanese word that describes the concept of, ‘a profound sense of the beauty of the universe, and in response, the design sought to capture its own underground universe by embodying the elements of the world”.
- Eid Goh, Director
The Chandelier
A collaborative artwork by Jennifer Conroy Smith, the chandelier embodies elements of water and wind, with over 2,000 hand-sculpted ceramic petals threaded onto glass fibre cables.
The Omakase Bar
Designed as a restaurant within a restaurant, the omakase bar offers a highly personalised dining experience. Featuring solid timber tables with rippled stone detailing, it was designed to enhance the interaction between the chef and guests. We worked with master sushi chefs to make sure we got it just right.
