Espana & Itariana bar hachi

The Spanish bar designed in Nihonbashi, Ningyo-cho. A private home, built 60 years ago with an area of about 46 m2, was fully converted by being designed and planned under the theme “the traditional Japanese bar”, adhering to details and natural materials using the original features of the building. Espana & Italiana Bar hachi is a very narrow bar with an area of about 46m2 in total, including the 1st and 2nd floors. What the intended purpose, services, and operations of the 1st and the 2nd floors should be, were discussed. The 1st floor was designed so that people can be in an intimate space with a bar-like stand counter, as well as an open kitchen, creating an atmosphere of a casual Spanish bar, exaggerating the sense of distance and closeness with the customers. On the 2nd floor, a Japanese room without partitions is created, and round tables are set where many people can sit together. In this space, many people (maximum 15 people) can enjoy a meal together at the round tables, with a view of the 60-year-old roof truss. By dividing the area into the 1st and 2nd floors, the needs of the customers (small or large groups) can be satisfied. Provision of simple, traditional, Japanese style spaces, with a minimum of decorations could erase the image of “one scene for one need”, which is frequently seen in narrow shops.