Bronze Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2025
Nagisa Bakery Interior Space
- A' Design Award 2025 Bronze Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Nagisa Bakery
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 11,532
- Verification code 4E2D1D577A · Verify this award
About Nagisa Bakery Interior Space
Nagisa Bakery is a bakery interior in Osaka, Japan. The spatial composition expresses the themes of shore and sea through designs and colors that emphasize lines. Baguette bread is displayed like surfboards, propped against corrugated slate, a material commonly used for the roofs of beach huts. Eight shades of blue paint are applied to the ceiling to create the effect of louvers. Existing equipment and fixtures were reused, which reduced waste and construction costs. Distinct materials set the display area apart and draw attention to the products.
Katsunori Nagai's interior design for the bakery space demonstrates sophisticated engagement with contemporary retail environment theory, positioning the work within current discourse surrounding experiential commerce, material phenomenology, and the spatial articulation of craft-based hospitality traditions. The design appears to participate in broader movements emphasizing transparency between production and consumption zones, material authenticity as brand communication, and the creation of retail environments that honor both functional efficiency and emotional resonance. The compositional achievement resides primarily in the elegant resolution of competing demands: the counter structure simultaneously functions as display platform, spatial divider, and primary visual feature while maintaining openness through its slatted construction, the geometric regularity of timber divisions creating rhythmic visual interest without overwhelming the space, the proportional relationships between horizontal expanse and vertical human scale achieving balance that feels neither monumental nor cramped. The chromatic restraint demonstrates sophisticated color sensibility, the warm analogous palette unified by earth-tone family relationships while introducing sufficient variation through material diversity and the strategic placement of verdant botanical elements that provide chromatic accent and organic counterpoint to geometric rigor, the lighting strategy reinforcing warmth through careful color temperature selection while ensuring functional visibility. Technical execution reveals attention to detail in joinery precision, material selection favoring naturally beautiful substances that age gracefully, and lighting integration that remains unobtrusive while accomplishing atmospheric and practical objectives. The spatial narrative suggests themes of transparency and authenticity, the visible production zone beyond glazed partitions honoring the labor and craft involved in artisanal food preparation, the open counter construction allowing visual and psychological connection while maintaining necessary spatial organization, the design seemingly exploring how retail environments can foster trust and appreciation through environmental legibility. The incorporation of substantial botanical presence introduces biophilic design principles, connecting the controlled interior environment to natural growth and organic forms, the tropical foliage suggesting abundance and vitality that metaphorically aligns with the freshness and natural quality of baked goods, while providing essential visual softness and chromatic variation. The work may reference vernacular traditions of market stalls and craft workshops where production remains visible and accessible, translated through contemporary material sensibility and spatial organization principles. One observes how the design navigates between professional efficiency and approachable warmth, between contemporary minimalist aesthetics and traditional craft values, creating an environment that invites contemplation about how commercial spaces can honor both functional necessity and human psychological needs for material authenticity, spatial clarity, and environments that elevate rather than merely accommodate daily rituals of nourishment and social exchange.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The spatial composition expresses the elements of "Shore" and "Sea" with designs and colors that emphasize lines.
It proposed displaying the baguette bread like surfboards against corrugated slate, the type of slate used for the roofs of beach huts.
Eight shades of blue louvers are planned for the ceiling.
In terms of color and pitch, we expressed the beat of the chorus part with intervals and the scale with colors to give form to the melody of "Nagisa Hotel",one of the component parts. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Room dimensions w6000mm x d12000mm x h2700mm
- Tags
- Interior Space, Space Design, Architecture, Store Design, Interior, interior design, bakery shop, bakery, japan
- Production Technology
- The owner is an insurance agent who has a philosophy of being "the most energetic insurance agent in japan," and he opened a bakery out of his strong desire to bring a source of energy to the local community. Therefore, he decided to reconstruct the space of the store by using the source of energy of the owner as the spatial components (the beach, the beach house, the ingredients of , surfing, his favorite music), and to reflect the added value of the space as a new attraction.
- Design Challenge
- The most difficult part was to fulfill the client's wishes to the maximum extent possible within the limited budget. nevertheless, in order to realize the client's wishes, we painted eight different shades of blue paint on the inexpensive ceiling undercoat, which was a must-have item, to create the effect of louvers. we also rationalized costs by using mass-produced and inexpensive corrugated slate roofing material for the corrugated sheets on which the baguette bread are displayed.
- Project Duration
- The project began in August 2024, and it was decided that the store would open in a commercial facility called Sunpia Komyoike in Sakai city, Osaka prefecture. It is scheduled to open on November 23, 2024.
- Operation Flow
- Creative measures were taken to heighten customer curiosity. Large, eye-catching fixtures were placed in the center of the sales floor, and the flagship product, baguette bread, was displayed as surfboards, propped up against corrugated slate, the material commonly used for beach hut roofs. Eight shades of blue louvers were planned for installation on the ceiling. By separating the display area from the rest of the store with distinct materials, the intent was to draw greater attention to the products.
- Research
- Prior to designing the interior space, a review of the local situation was conducted. The existing establishment was a butcher shop, and the specifications required for operating a bakery presented no issues. Furthermore, due to the usability of much of the existing equipment and fixtures, a decision was made to repurpose them in a new configuration. This reuse allowed for a reduction in waste and a decrease in construction costs.
- Inspiration
- This is a bakery in Osaka.
The owner has a strong desire to bring energy to his local area, and said he wanted to open a bakery where he could bake bread every morning and have people feel energized by eating it.
The owner loves surfing and the song "Nagisa Hotel" by the Japanese band Southern All Stars.
In order to bring energy to his customers, he wanted to create a place that he loves, a place that makes him feel energized, so he named it "Nagisa Bakery". - Image Credits
- All photos copyright : Photographer Junichi Usui
Colors of Nagisa Bakery Interior Space
Get Nagisa Bakery Interior Space
Grand Interview about Nagisa Bakery Interior Space
Nagisa in Nagisa Bakery means wave in Japanese. We wondered if we could express such a wave in the most eye-catching central fixture. The shape of a wave is an irregular curve, but it is too simple to express it by simply using a curved space. Furthermore, curves are more expensive to produce than straight lines. Therefore, we thought that by mixing materials with different expressions in the straight lines to create a gradation, we could express a wave-like curve in the straight lines.The selected materials are two types of laminated plywood. The cross section of laminated plywood is a collection of thin straight lines. We mainly used general laminated plywood, but in some parts, we randomly placed laminated plywood with green and blue cross sections from Takizawa Veneer Co., Ltd., a Japanese building material manufacturer, in the straight lines to express the appearance of waves in the straight lines.
The name Nagisa Bakery was inspired by the image of the song "Nagisa Hotel" by Japanese musician Southern All Stars. The song has a melody line like a gentle wave, and we thought that by embodying this melody line, we could express the wave. However, since the central fixture is the part we wanted to highlight as a space, we placed it so that the gaze would not be too concentrated. These louvers express the image of gentle waves in the ocean.The spacing of the louvers represents the melody of the song, and the colors represent the musical scale. The eight types of blue louvers form a gentle gradation, and were placed to gently bring the entire space together.These louvers are an essential base material for constructing the ceiling, so the construction costs are much lower than installing new louvers. Moreover, we designed them to be easily fixed in the necessary parts.
When I was thinking about how to display the products, the client told me that Nagisa Bakery would be focusing on baguette bread, so I searched for a way to display them that would evoke the sea. I wanted to use building materials like those used at beach huts, and while looking around beach huts and outdoor shops, I noticed surfboards leaning up against a particularly eye-catching wall. At that time, I thought that if I displayed the baguette bread like a long, thin surfboard, the unusual appearance would be memorable to customers. So I thought about whether I could display it leaning up like a surfboard, and I came up with the corrugated slate used on the roofs of beach huts. The baguette bread could be placed exactly in the recessed area formed by the wave shape. Products displayed in this way were an easy-to-understand way to communicate Nagisa Bakery's brand image, and customers developed an attachment to the store.
Due to budgetary constraints, it was important to select inexpensive materials that would match the brand image. However, the beach huts, which are one of the brand images, use building materials in their original state and with exposed base materials.By accepting this method of using materials frankly, we were able to maintain the brand image. As this project was low cost, we were able to think simply about the material selection. As a result, we were able to come up with ideas for using corrugated slate and louvers on the blue ceiling base, and ultimately we were able to create a design in a good direction.
One of the challenges for the bread display to function as a bakery was not only how easy it was to display the bread, but also how to visually reflect the owner's passion.We felt that the way to solve this problem was to come up with a display that would catch the customer's eye in a way that was in line with the concept of the product.When we observed the shape of baguette bread, the main product, we realized that because it is long and slender, it looks better and is more likely to catch the customer's eye when displayed upright than when displayed flat.We thought this would be a nice and balanced combination of the owner's passion for surfing and the way the baguette bread should be displayed.This display method of leaning the bread upright gave rise to the idea of leaning the baguette bread against a corrugated slate like a surfboard.
The principle is to decide the components of the space and to design based on those components. The space is clearly separated into materials to draw attention to the products, and the materials are mainly divided into blue and light beige. This represents the component "Ngisa." "Nagisa" means the place where the waves crash between the sea and the beach. The blue parts are generally lowered in brightness to represent the "sea," and the light beige parts are increased in brightness to represent the "sand beach." By deliberately incorporating low brightness parts into the space, the high brightness parts stand out, and by displaying products in those parts, it is easier to attract attention.
The design concept of Nagisa Bakery includes the element of a "beach house." One of the methods used to create a beach house is to reuse driftwood and waste materials washed up on the shore. In this project, we designed the space by reusing existing equipment and fixtures in a new way. In addition, some old wooden boards that the owner treasured were used as materials for the cash register counter, but this is in line with the design concept, so the act of reusing did not have a negative impact on the design concept. Rather, by actively reusing, we were able to further emphasize the concept. While using materials that customers have a deep attachment to, we were able to reduce overall costs, and the project was able to be implemented smoothly.
In order to express an atmosphere that is in line with the design concept within a commercial space, I believe it is important to give the overall space a simple shape that follows a regular module. If the overall space has a simple shape, it will be easier to realize the design concept you want to express within that space. It will be full of realism and more likely to reach the emotions of customers. In my design method, I use the golden ratio and the Japanese unit of measurement, shakkanho, as modules to create beautiful spaces. The dimensions of the overall space of Nagisa Bakery are formed according to these modules.
The owner's philosophy as a bakery and insurance agency is to bring energy to customers. For that reason, he wanted the interior of the store to be a comfortable, uplifting space, so he chose a bright place with a light beige base color. He also decided to display a large amount of merchandise on the central fixtures, so that customers would gather easily and the atmosphere would be lively and lively.He designed the store with the hope that the comfort and liveliness of the space would give customers who visit a little energy.
The color palette of the space was decided based on the design concept "Nagisa". The light beige represents the sand of the beach, the gray represents stones and reefs, and the blue represents the sea, expressing the melody of "Nagisa Hotel", the image song of the client's space. Eight blue colors were adopted for the colors "Ocean Blue", "Moon Shine Blue", "Morning Blue", "Adonis Blue", "Turquoise Blue", "Rio Blue", "Sapphire Blue", and "Marine Blue", and colors that evoke the sea were selected. By using eight shades of blue, a gradation is created rather than using only a single color, and it was thought that the design concept and the client's image of the space could be more visually expressed.