Ukiyoe by Fabio Su wins Bronze at A' Design Awards

Ukiyoe, a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant interior in Yuanlin, Taiwan, has won a Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. The project was recognized for blending local culture, Japanese dining traditions and sustainable materials in a space designed by Fabio Su and Zendo Design.

Why it matters: - The Bronze A' Design Award puts Ukiyoe in a global interior design competition known for recognizing projects with strong craftsmanship, function and cultural relevance. - The win highlights growing demand for restaurant spaces that combine operational efficiency, environmental responsibility and a distinct sense of place. - The project offers a model for designers and restaurateurs trying to balance customer experience with sustainable material choices.

What happened: - The A' Design Award named Ukiyoe, a restaurant interior by Fabio Su, a Bronze recipient in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. - Ukiyoe is a Japanese conveyor-belt sushi restaurant in Yuanlin, Changhua, Taiwan. - The recognition was announced on July 9, 2026. - The project was selected through a rigorous evaluation process.

The details: - Ukiyoe combines local culture with Japanese dining traditions. - The design uses regional imagery and natural materials inside a conveyor-belt sushi format. - The exterior features wood grain aluminum louvers that trace the silhouette of Alishan mountain. - The interior preserves architectural elements from the Japanese colonial period. - The space uses a material palette that includes cypress wood, granite skin, night pearl antique surface, incense fir, H-shaped steel, wood grain brick, rust plate and cola stone. - A dual-track circulation system supports movement through the restaurant. - Japanese aesthetic principles of simplicity and shadow shape the atmosphere. - A representative Ukiyo-e wallpaper runs through the space and recreates Edo-period scenes. - The wallpaper reinforces the cultural background of the cuisine. - The project extends a design language first established in Zendo Design's Chiayi flagship store. - The award page is available here.

Between the lines: - The award suggests the industry is rewarding restaurant interiors that do more than serve food and also communicate identity, history and place. - The project positions sustainability as a design feature rather than a separate layer, with material choice and layout supporting the concept. - Fabio Su's background and Zendo Design's approach point to a practice shaped by cross-cultural influence and eco-friendly priorities.

What's next: - The recognition may help Fabio Su and Zendo Design expand the restaurant concept into future projects. - The award could encourage more interiors that use local references, efficient circulation and lower-impact materials. - The A' Design Award says the competition continues to promote projects that advance design standards and benefit society.

The bottom line: - Ukiyoe stands out as a restaurant interior that ties together culture, function and sustainability in one award-winning package.