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The Grand Blue Express

KTX archiLAB

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From the Entrance - Stirling Elmendorf
The circle sofa - Stirling Elmendorf
The Aisle - Stirling Elmendorf
From the Entrance - Stirling Elmendorf

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Restaurant
4.65
4.98
4.82
4.02
4.62
Ed Ng
Ed Ng Cofounder and Principal at AB Concept
6
5
5.5
5
5.38
Nicholas J Hickson
Nicholas J Hickson Founder & Technical Director at THDP
5
6.45
6.24
5
5.67
Atlihan Onat Karacali
Atlihan Onat Karacali Educator at University of Central Lancashire
4.35
4.2
6.02
5
4.89
Alex Whitlow
Alex Whitlow Research and Strategy Director at Quinine
5
3.99
4.51
3.54
4.26
Dan Cheong
Dan Cheong Partner at Buro Ole Scheeren
5
6
5
5
5.25
Engin Ayaz
Engin Ayaz Cofounder at Atölye
4
5
5
3
4.25
Daniela Viloria García
Daniela Viloria García Senior Lighting Designer at Broadway Malyan
4
4
4
4
4
Anja Pangerl
Anja Pangerl Executive Partner at Blocher Partners
4
5
4
3
4
Simon Saint
Simon Saint Principal and Global Residential Sector Leader at Woods Bagot
5.31
5.74
6.6
3.52
5.29
Idmen Liu
Idmen Liu Founder at Matrix Design
4.1
4.17
3.81
3.95
4.01
Moe Krimat
Moe Krimat Strategic Creative Director at SeenDisplay
4
5
4
3
4
Nataly Bolshakova
Nataly Bolshakova Founder and Lead Designer at Bolshakova Interiors
5
5
3.93
5.1
4.76
Daniel Perlin
Daniel Perlin Founder at Make_Good
4.33
4.61
5
3.14
4.27
Vincent Zhang
Vincent Zhang Founder and Design Director at Stylus Studio
5
5.5
3.88
4.07
4.61
Client
Nautilus
Floor area
95 ㎡
Completion
2022
Social Media
Instagram Facebook Linkedin
Finishes
Photographer

The Grand Blue Express is a luxury aquarium dining restaurant in Ueno, Tokyo. The renovated space takes place inside a mixed used building with a floor area no larger than 95sqm. Inspired by luxury trains, the design tries to overcome the small space limitations to both accommodate the aquariums and provide the luxurious atmosphere the restaurant aims to implement. The dining room takes the form of a corridor coach that serves the individual cabins on both sides. each cabin is equipped with its aquarium installed to mimic the train windows, creating the impression to be inside a train cruising underwater.

The restaurant is located on the 5th floor of the building and is accessible through an elevator that opens to a small welcoming hall. At the corner a circular shaped sofa. Then the corridor along the space serving the cabins on both sides. on the left, four two-seaters’ cabins and on the right four other four-seaters’ cabins. At the end of the corridor the VIP cabin. The kitchen is accessed on both extremities of the corridor on the right side.

The aquariums are surrounded by steel frames with a golden baked painting finish that mimic cruiser trains’ windows. On the top of the frame another rounded steel panel that allows access to the aquariums for maintenance purposes. The corridor ceiling is covered in special stainless panels that imitates water waves enhancing the underwater cruising train impression created by the space.