Seeing this rough-looking cave, do you think you have entered a world natural heritage site with a history of tens of thousands of years? However, this is not an ancient site, but an underground restaurant and residence “excavated” in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan in 2022. This cave-like building named “Maison Owl” was created by Japanese designer Junya Ishigami, and inside its unique exterior hides a French restaurant and private residence.
Junya Ishigami was originally commissioned by a friend with only one design requirement: to create a building that would “become more substantial over time,” resembling a place that has existed for a long time, much like authentic cuisine with a long history. In order to create a new “long-established” restaurant, Ishigami avoided using polished smooth building materials and instead used natural and rough earth construction.
Because they deliberately omitted detailed architectural drawings in the construction process, various “accidents” and “surprises” often occur during the development. They first dig trenches and caves on the ground, then pour concrete, wait for the soil to harden, and then build internal volumes and fix glass panels to create indoor spaces. Since the construction workers hand-dig the caves, there are inevitably some manual errors that lead to inconsistent shapes, but this actually makes the cave’s design more natural.
This building now serves as both the owner’s restaurant and his home. The owner hopes that this naturally inspired architecture can continue to exist for eternity and be passed down to future generations. He expects that when guests come to the restaurant, they will feel a warm atmosphere as if they were welcoming family and friends.
In the flat layout, the restaurant is on the north side, the home is on the south side, separated by three courtyards in the middle, allowing free movement between the two areas. When the restaurant is not open, the lobby becomes a place for family entertainment or children’s learning. Would you like to experience living and learning in this “ancient cave”?
Image source and learn more: Junya Ishigami + Associates