This proposal addresses the final-year project brief for the Undergraduate degree, which is to design a catering space in the Central Pavilion of the Casa da Arquitetura.

Nami, a Japanese word meaning ‘wave’, is the inspiration behind a Japanese tasting restaurant where the journey and the guest experience take centre stage. The space is organised into two distinct areas: a reception and waiting area, designed for socialising, and a main tasting area structured around a circular counter for the omakase experience. The spatial sequence, inspired by the Japanese concepts of journey and discovery, guides visitors through spaces that encourage contemplation, sharing and conviviality.

The design combines vertical wooden elements, inspired by shōji screens, with a palette of natural materials such as wood, stone and linen, creating a serene and contemporary atmosphere rooted in Japanese aesthetics. At the centre of the space, the circular counter breaks down hierarchies, brings customers and the chef closer together and reinforces the communal aspect of the experience, conveying values such as simplicity, authenticity and human connection through architecture.