Bar and Lounge at Sōgawa by Onizuka-Sekkeibu

This project involves the renovation of two units into a bar and a lounge within a shipping-container restaurant alley in the city center of Toyama, Japan. Originally planned to encourage circulation through limited rents and tenancy periods, the facility faced vacancies during the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring rapid activation while the business plan and design process progressed simultaneously.

By embracing the rough and industrial character of the existing containers, light-gauge steel, flexible boards, and recycled ocean plastic were used as primary elements to create a flexible interior. This interior supports future modifications and reduces the initial investment required for subsequent tenants. Movable tables were introduced in the compact bar, and the lounge was reconfigured as a shared space accessible to the entire facility. A sunken seating area using igusa adds a tactile and aromatic sense of relaxation that contrasts with the industrial setting.