HDI completes 6,000 s/f Japanese restaurant in Woodbury Village

Is it a spa, a Japanese garden, a trendy / hip lounge, a fun sushi bar or a stylish Japanese seafood restaurant? According to Doug Horst, president, of award-winning Horst Design International (HDI), his latest architectural design for the new 6,000 s/f Nisen Sushi, Japanese seafood restaurant, in the Woodbury Village shopping center, L.I. blends all of these environments into one captivating milieu. "Through the unique design, colors, forms and materials, HDI has reinterpreted the traditional Japanese restaurant to create a unique 21st century contemporary dining experience," said Cary Staller, president, Staller Associates (shopping center owner). Nisen Sushi welcomes patrons into a sophisticated, subdued setting with an oriental flare and subliminal seascape atmosphere. "Owners Robert Beer and Tom Lam, chef ( also the owner of Nisen Sushi in Commack), had a vision of a high end premiere Japanese restaurant with an innovative architectural design. "We used a variety of multi textured materials, wave-like curved forms, dramatic fabric draped arches highlighted with a muted color palette/accent splashes that compliment the creative combination of European and Sushi cuisines," said Horst. Patrons will be enthralled by the unusual storefront with a glass entry embraced by a combination of smooth/rough-cut blackstone on the facade and internally illuminated bamboo-embedded resin columns melting through the storefront. Within the vestibule, you are greeted by an impressive display of over 75 various sake bottles/brands provided on the menu. Entering a soft, lightly colored spa-like reception area, one can't help but notice HDI's custom designed spectacular cylindrical fabric Asian style chandelier overhead. To break up the rectilinear 28' wide x 100' long dining area, HDI created different spaces from front to back with various functions. A series of monumental 5' wide fabric wave-like arches subtly separates the areas & visually guides people from one space to another. The experience culminates in the back of Nisen Sushi with an extraordinary glass fronted sake cellar holding 2,000 bottles, the largest high-quality sake collection on L.I. "Horst Design International is a pre-eminent BRAND design firm of retail stores and restaurants worldwide" said Staller. "Each of their designs is unique and captures the essence of the shopping and dining experience."