The design combines Japanese tranquility (or Seijaku) with a cosmopolitan energy that typifies Kasa Moto’s clientele. To meet the summer patio season, the project required a quick turnaround. This was no small feat, especially on a heritage building.

The great gift of outdoor projects is light. Kasa Moto’s rooftop is perfectly situated to catch everything from morning sun to golden hour. It’s a popular destination at all times of day, so we had to simultaneously create a serene respite for business lunches by day and a buzzy vibe for nights and weekends.

We were inspired by our travels to Japan, not just traditional architecture and craft, but also the prosaic: sidewalks, siding, temple soffits. The Japanese appreciate beauty in the mundane. The banquette seating detail, inspired by seating in the Tokyo subway, is paired with kiln-dried white oak backs and platforms that are inspired by Japanese woodcraft. The most striking feature is undeniably the use of Shou Sugi Ban, an ancient technique that preserves wood by charring it with fire.