Boku by Takahiro Todoroki wins Silver A' Design Award

Boku, a restaurant and bar designed by Takahiro Todoroki, won a Silver A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. The project was recognized in Como, Italy, for blending Japanese spatial ideas with Mexican culture through a blind peer-reviewed competition.

Why it matters: - The award spotlights a hospitality project that turns cultural exchange into a physical dining experience. - Boku adds to the interior design field’s focus on cross-cultural spaces, functional layouts, and material restraint. - The recognition can raise the profile of Takahiro Todoroki and engine,inc. in international design work.

What happened: - The A' Design Award named Boku, a restaurant and bar designed by Takahiro Todoroki, a Silver winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. - The announcement was made in Como, Italy, on September 16, 2026. - The project was evaluated through a blind peer-review process against established criteria. - The award recognizes work that combines cultural relevance, functional clarity, and material refinement.

The details: - Boku draws on Osaka street food culture and centers its concept on takoyaki. - The design reinterprets the octopus as a spatial idea. - A curved counter suggests tentacles and is meant to encourage social interaction. - Wall textures evoke suction cups and add tactile depth. - Suspended bamboo lighting and natural materials shape an organic atmosphere. - Ranma lattice and sumie art add subtle traditional references. - A mezzanine uses the high ceiling to add vertical depth and more usable space within a narrow plan. - Traditional Takeakari lighting was translated into a modular ceiling system using parametric modeling and digital fabrication. - Bamboo elements were laser cut from three-dimensional data. - A project page with more information is available on the A' Design Award website.

Between the lines: - The project reflects a design approach that aims to avoid stereotypes while still making Japanese identity legible in a global setting. - The award signals demand for hospitality spaces that feel authentic, not themed. - The use of digital fabrication alongside traditional references shows how contemporary tools can support culturally grounded design. - The recognition also points to the value of careful coordination between design intent and local construction capability.

What's next: - The award may help Takahiro Todoroki and engine,inc. pursue more projects that combine Japanese aesthetics with international contexts. - The studio is likely to keep testing new materials, fabrication methods, and spatial arrangements in future work. - The A' Design Award continues to position winning projects for broader industry visibility.

The bottom line: - Boku was recognized for turning cultural translation into a clear, functional restaurant design with strong material and spatial discipline.