Hospitality
Tsukiyo no Niwa [Moonlight Garden]
HAY & Suntory
2023
Benjamin Menzel
A restaurant in the heart of Tokyo, born from the collaboration between Danish furniture brand HAY and the Japanese distillery The House of Suntory. Combining Scandinavian design principles with Japanese culture and craftsmanship.
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abstract
Tsukiyo no Niwa [Moonlight Garden]
Tsukiyo No Niwa serves as an experiential space for both HAY’s furniture and The House of Suntory’s premium spirits. The concept blends the Scandinavian Hygge philosophy with traditional Japanese aesthetics, creating a calm and intimate environment where guests can enjoy high-end cuisine and curated drink pairings. Designed through an in-depth analysis of both brands’ values, the space highlights the natural elegance of HAY’s design language and the refined craftsmanship of The House of Suntory.
00 scope of work
01 [design concept] 02 [spatial design] 03 [model design] 04 [editorial design] 05 [hospitality design] 06 [interior design] 07 [3D design] 08 [graphic design] 09 [product design]
01 Entrance
The restaurant is designed in the traditional Sukiya-Zukuri style, defined by wooden pillars, clay-plastered walls, and a strong connection to natural materials. These elements appear immediately in the entrance: wood paneling, clay-rendered surfaces, and a sliding door bearing Tsukiyo No Niwa’s logo in black-lacquered steel. Traditional Noren curtains with the same logo mark the transition into the space. Guests enter through the Genkan, a lowered stone-floored entry typical of Japanese architecture, here executed with recycled dark brown natural stone to emphasize sustainability. Blue LED ceiling lights bathe the area in a soft moonlit glow, reinforcing the Moonlight Garden theme. A round wall light evokes Machiya-style windows and symbolizes the moon, while two stone gardens enhance the atmosphere. The Genkan acts as a transitional space to the dining and bar areas—conceived as a separate “house within the house,” visually defined by a raised roof structure.
02 Engawa
Following the entrance, visitors enter the Engawa, narrow walkways inspired by traditional Japanese architecture that form the main circulation paths of the restaurant. These verandas connect the dining areas, bar, and restrooms, creating a seamless flow through the space. The restaurant features three main corridors. The flooring consists of wide, oiled spruce planks. Spruce is used extensively throughout the restaurant, in the walls, ceilings, and structural elements of the Engawa. As with the entrance, the veranda walls are divided: metal panels at the base, topped with vertical spruce slats to create visual height. Wooden lattice ceiling segments with integrated LED panels illuminate the corridors, extending to the end walls as both design and lighting features.
03 Moonlight Garden
The Moonlight Garden is the namesake and central highlight of Tsukiyo No Niwa, offering an immersive experience that reflects the deep connection to nature shared by Scandinavian and Japanese cultures. Overhead, blue LED lighting simulates moonlight, bathing the space in a tranquil glow. To enhance the illusion of walking through a natural night landscape, subtle soundscapes and a cooled room temperature are used. Stone lanterns add warm lighting accents, while plants such as Japanese Andromeda, azaleas, and a yuzu tree—used in Suntory’s Roku Gin, connect the space to the brand’s heritage. By engaging the senses of sight, touch, and smell, the Moonlight Garden offers guests a multi-sensory experience of The House of Suntory in a truly memorable way.
04 Bar
The bar serves as a tasting and retail space for premium spirits from The House of Suntory. The design blends elements from other zones: table seating is set on a wooden walkway reminiscent of the Engawa, while the bar counter stands on a stone floor, creating a material transition from the dining area. Lighting is warm and intimate, with ceiling fixtures and table lamps contributing to a cozy atmosphere. The bar also functions as a retail area, offering a curated range of Suntory products.
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