wataru tanabe studio's 48 sqm café in japan is a naturally lit, free-form space

all images © hideki makiguchi

free-form layout + natural lighting respond to the dual function of the interiors 

wataru tanabe’s design of ETHICUS theleema stands out with its newly-added openings that bring in daylight and its free-form objects made of logs, natural stones, and mortar lumps. placed at strategic spots and regular intervals across the space, the architect kept the objects in ‘neutral’ shapes to serve different functions that respond to the café’s multifunctional nature. indeed, they can either serve as tables and chairs or display fixtures that hold exhibition pieces. the various layouts punctuating the café, together with custom wooden stacking stools and cushions, create an experience that invites discovery, free-form style, and change at every visit. 

combined together, the various layouts and objects create an experience for discovery and change at every visit

custom wooden stacking stools and cushions are spread across the café

a step loosely divides the interiors into the entrance and back area

ETHICUS theleema is completed as a white cubic room with plenty of façade openings

the café sits within a holiday home in the shizuoka prefecture

the wooden, stone, and mortar objects are strategically placed to appear in the façade openings

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project info:

name: ETHICUS theleema

location: izu kougen, shizuoka, japan
total floor area: 48 sqm
designer: wataru tanabe studio

photography: hideki makiguchi

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom