Horst Design International transforms 5,000 s/f retail property into Ginza restaurant

Horst Design International (HDI), a retail and restaurant design firm, has transformed a former Sizzler Steak House into an Asian cuisine restaurant, Ginza. Recognized for its unique design and interior brand image creations worldwide, HDI has renovated the existing 5,000 s/f footprint. The principals own and operate several restaurants in the NY metro area. They asked HDI to develop a new environment for this high end culinary establishment located adjacent to the Sunrise Shopping Mall. In addition to developing a dramatic look, HDI's task was to gut/rebuild the existing steak restaurant-creating dining and bar areas for 200 guests. According to one of the owners, Jeff Qiu, "the Ginza atmosphere is meticulously detailed and an exquisite dining experience, where every guest feels like they have been instantly transported to Manhattan's trendiest Asian eatery." Using nearly all black and crimson red materials, HDI developed a clean, modern, contemporary interior that would appeal to both the single set and family customers. "As guests arrive to the site, they are greeted by the unusual presence of the modern Asian-Inspired exterior façade," said Doug Horst, president, creative director, HDI. "Ginza translated means 'silver mint' and the exterior of the building is adorned with polished stainless steel panels and black Japanese tile sticks." The entrances to the building are adorned with 28'-0" tall Japanese inspired arbors, constructed of hand selected 18" diameter Lodge Pole Pine timbers with illuminated screens of cascading aluminum chains." At night, LED lighting provides a dramatic entryway, alluding to the dining experience beyond the doors. Carrying the Asian theme into the interior, diners are welcomed by a stone reception desk and a 75' long illuminated ceiling treatment starting at the entry, which leads them through the space. The restaurant interior is organized into five main sections that include: sushi bar, main dining room, private booth areas, secondary dining area (that also serves as a private party room) and the bar/lounge area. A backlit sushi bar is the grand visual focal point from the dining room & can even be seen thru the glass facade from outside the restaurant. It is fabricated from a recycled translucent 3Form Ecoresin material in a frosted crimson finish. The entire bar top is rear illuminated with LED lighting that softly illuminates the dining surface. The back wall behind the many diligently working sushi chefs is a shimmering wall of cascading aluminum chains ( similar to the exterior entry treatments ) that glistens in the soft LED and low voltage Halogen lighting. Interspersed in 8 locations throughout the dining and bar areas are 12' tall backlit museum-like displays, housing life size terracotta soldiers from the Orient. These historic Asian figures set the tone for the quality culinary experience the guests will enjoy. Lined along the west wall is a 20' wide recessed booth fully lined with luxurious padded upholstered walls and ceiling to provide acoustical sound deadening. In various areas of the interior, guests will find photographic wall murals depicting the famed GINZA district of Tokyo - Japan (the restaurant's name sake), in both contemporary and historic forms. One of the Murals, of the famed Sukiyabashi Crossing resulted in the inspiration for the restaurant's new 'G' logo ( which can be found adorning the sushi chef's jackets ). The Bar/lounge is individual - yet connected visually & via two traffic patterns to the main dining room. Upholstered banquettes in this area provide for bar gatherings and low lounge height table seating. The seating focal point here are four dramatic suspended egg shaped pods with a high gloss black shell and a sound deadening upholstered interior. Guests entering the space are immediately drawn to the cocoon like seats. Large screen plasma TV's entertain the guests, set against an LED illuminated chain wall. The custom suspended mirror light-box overhead was designed to accent the bar's linearity. Hung ceiling planes throughout, provide an inexpensive solution for creating drama overhead while functioning as acoustic sound deadening elements. Lighting throughout the space is predominantly LED sources in various forms (track heads, strip lighting, recessed luminaries, cove lights, etc.-all dimmable and color changing at the press of a button). Multiple unisex toilet rooms provide a dramatic vibrantly colored environment with frosted glass graphic paneled doors depicting a forest of Japanese bamboo. Horst Design International, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, is an award winning Retail Brand Imaging strategic design consultancy. Providing restaurant & retail clients worldwide with strategic economical design solutions that maximize their project investments & results. HDI has been ranked among the top retail designers in North America and its work has been published in numerous magazines & books. GINZA Management: Jeff Qiu - principal and Ben Lee - principal. Horst Design International Project Team: Douglas Horst, principal - creative director; Eric Bress, account executive - project management; Jeanette Bovich, project coordination - colors & materials; Benjamin Horst, project designer - architectural, interior & lighting; Tom Zupich, project coordination - drafting; and Leslie Ann Wigon, graphics director.