New York-based Islyn Studio look to a nearby Miami Beach marina when designing the interiors of a Japanese restaurant, blending “tropical brutalism with the elegance of Japanese deco”.
Uchiko – a sister restaurant to Uchi in nearby Wynwood – serves a Japanese menu from James Beard Award‑winning chef Tyson Cole.
Located in Sunset Harbor, just across the street from the marina and yacht club, the restaurant’s interior was designed by Islyn Studio to reflect both the cuisine and the context.
“Uchiko is a poetic interpretation of Miami Beach’s spirit, blending tropical brutalism with the elegance of Japanese deco influences to create a space that feels like an escape, yet remains deeply rooted in its marina-side setting,” said the studio.
The space combines multiple textured materials and hand-crafted elements, juxtaposing raw and refined to reflect the industrial yet elevated nature of the adjacent marina.
Japanese influences are visible throughout, from the woodwork joinery and details to the drapery and light fixtures.
Guests are greeted by a black host stand wrapped in layers of woven fringe, influenced by Japanese thatched roofs.
Behind, the concrete wall is pressed with leaves from tropical foliage and framed by large pebbles also embedded into the material.
The bar runs the length of one side and is built from glass blocks in a deep blue-green hue, which catch the light and cast rippled reflections on the tall ceiling.
Islyn Studio describes the feature as “a glowing jewel that captures the light of the setting sun and casts rippling reflections onto the ceiling, evoking the magic of water at golden hour”.
More sea green accents appear in mosaic marble tiles that break up areas of the concrete floor, and larger ceramic tiles that cover select tables and the counter in front of the kitchen.
Booth seating is tucked into niches wrapped in teak wood, with louvred shutters behind that nod to tropical architecture.
In the private dining room, a fireplace surround formed of monolithic carved stone slabs presides over a long wooden table.
“With its moody lighting, rich textures, and enveloping warmth, the room feels like a hidden world filled with artful discoveries,” said the studio.
Textiles, plants and artwork also play into the tropical-meets-Japanese aesthetic.
Meanwhile, the bathrooms are lined with aubergine-coloured tiles that provide an unexpected shift in palette.
Islyn Studio was founded by designer Ashley Wilkins and has completed projects that range from a soothing Brooklyn vet’s clinic to a food hall in an Albuquerque lumber warehouse.
The studio’s interiors for a restaurant in Kingston, New York was longlisted for the 2023 Dezeen Awards in the Restaurant and Bar category.
The photography is by William Jess Laird.
Project credits:
Owners: Hai Hospitality
Interior design firm: Islyn Studio
Interior design project team: Ashley Wilkins (Owner), Laura Hope, Emily Febrizio, Colleen Smith
Architect: Form Group
Procurement: Pineapple Procurement
General contractor: City Construction
Lighting design: AE Design
